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Scientists hope gene will help premature lungs

Scientists at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have identified the gene that controls others that allow foetal lungs to develop during pregnancy and function at birth.

The US scientists hope that the Foxa2 gene could lead to better treatments for premature babies with lung problems and could also advance the treatment of children and adults with lung disorders.

The study looked at specially bred mice, some of whom did not have the Foxa2 gene and found that those who who did not have the gene developed all the signs and symptoms of respiratory distress syndrome on the first day of life and died within hours of birth. The few that did survive went on to develop asthma-like symptoms and emphysema.

The mice with the gene survived normally. The scientists discovered that by not having the Foxa2 gene, another gene known as foxa1 was activated more strongly but it was not enough to maintain breathing.

The researchers concluded that Foxa2 controls key factors that allow the lungs of a foetus to develop fully and to breathe air when they are born.

In premature babies, the lungs have not fully formed as full lung development takes place in the last three months of pregnancy. Premature babies lack a chemical called surfactant which prevents the lungs from collapsing. This chemical is given to premature babies to keep their lungs working after birth.

Dr Jeffrey Whitsett, who led the research, said "We showed that Foxa2 regulates a group of genes that stabilise surfactant production, which is required for the transition from the womb to breathing air and to protect the lungs from disease, bacterial infection and other disease and injury.

"It was surprising to us that a single gene was able to orchestrate so many other aspects of lung function we know are critical for survival at the time of birth.

"The discovery of this gene and understanding of how it works could lead to new treatments for premature infants and for children and adults who suffer from lung disease or injury."

Much research has been carried out into genetic links with lung diseases and it is hoped that this new research will help develop new treatments for lung disease in the future.

• Will this prompt more resarch into lung development for premature babies? Air your views in Discuss, Debate and Deliberate
• Find out more about premature birth in Born Too Soon