Eczema is a common skin problem that involves chronic inflammation and itching. Genetic studies of the disorder have homed in on mice with mutations in the filaggrin gene, which lead to defects in the skin’s outer surface.
Researchers have now identified a second culprit, a gene called Matt that encodes the transmembrane protein mattrin and whose variants are linked with eczema—not just in mice, but in humans, too.
Comparing thousands of people with eczema to those without, the researchers found that a single nucleotide polymorphism in the human MATT gene was related to a small increased risk for the condition.
Read the full, original story here: Another Eczema Gene Identified