Researchers at the Medical School at Washington University in Saint Louis (USA) have identified a group of 12 genetic variants in the gene HSPB7 associated with heart failure in humans. The findings are published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation ‘.

The scientists, led by Gerald Dorn, used a sophisticated method to analyze DNA that had developed recently and that allowed them to identify genetic variation in four genes with genetic relevance for heart failure.

The authors identified a large group of Caucasian individuals with heart failure, 129 separate genetic variants in four genes, including 23 that appeared to be new.

Further analysis of 1,117 Caucasian individuals with heart failure and 625 unaffected indicated that a block of 12 genetic variants in the gene GSPB7 was associated with heart failure. Further confirmation of this association came from analysis of an independent group of individuals.

The authors hope that you can use this same method to identify more genetic variants associated with heart failure, a disease that is influenced by multiple genetic risk factors.