Comments on: SNPwatch: AMD Linked to Yet Another Immune System Gene http://spittoon.23andme.com/2008/10/07/snpwatch-amd-linked-to-yet-another-immune-system-gene/ A receptacle for genetic knowledge. Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:51:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: ErinC http://spittoon.23andme.com/2008/10/07/snpwatch-amd-linked-to-yet-another-immune-system-gene/comment-page-1/#comment-808 ErinC Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:01:15 +0000 http://spittoon.23andme.com/?p=1552#comment-808 The mechanism you propose could be correct. But it could also be that over-activity of the complement pathway is what's behind AMD, and that variants in SERPING1 enhance its activity, thus keeping the complement pathway in check. A lot more research is obviously going to be needed to get to the bottom of all this. I think all we do know right now is that things are getting very interesting in AMD research. The mechanism you propose could be correct. But it could also be that over-activity of the complement pathway is what’s behind AMD, and that variants in SERPING1 enhance its activity, thus keeping the complement pathway in check. A lot more research is obviously going to be needed to get to the bottom of all this. I think all we do know right now is that things are getting very interesting in AMD research.

]]> By: Andrew.Yates http://spittoon.23andme.com/2008/10/07/snpwatch-amd-linked-to-yet-another-immune-system-gene/comment-page-1/#comment-807 Andrew.Yates Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:04:11 +0000 http://spittoon.23andme.com/?p=1552#comment-807 Wow, so is this what's happening? 1) SERPING1 describes C1-inhibitor, and these mutations somehow diminish its function. 2) C1-inhibitor is a serpin which inhibits the complement system pathways including C1 3) Inhibition of the inhibition of the classical complement pathway increases the activity of the complement pathway 4) This increased activity somehow is better at clearing drusen, which are age-related accumulations of waste in the eye's Bruch's membrane Is this right? Wow, so is this what’s happening?

1) SERPING1 describes C1-inhibitor, and these mutations somehow diminish its function.
2) C1-inhibitor is a serpin which inhibits the complement system pathways including C1
3) Inhibition of the inhibition of the classical complement pathway increases the activity of the complement pathway
4) This increased activity somehow is better at clearing drusen, which are age-related accumulations of waste in the eye’s Bruch’s membrane

Is this right?

]]>