TOKYO — A team of researchers at Japan’s Keio University have discovered a genetic factor related to cold hypersensitivity, possibly enabling medical experts in the future to propose effective treatments based on genetic testing results.
The findings by Xuefeng Wu and other researchers at the university’s Center for Kampo Medicine have been published in the British journal Scientific Reports.
The team analyzed 1,111 Japanese women aged between 20 and 59 who had used a genetic test conducted by a private company and who gave their consent to the study. The women responded to a questionnaire on cold sensitivity symptoms and their severity. The researchers then compared the bases on the genomes of the 599 women reporting cold hypersensitivity to those without symptoms.
The results revealed base differences in genes such as “TRPM2” and “KCNK2,” proteins related to feeling temperature, in those who had excessive sensitivity to cold. The team believes these differences could alter the expression of a protein connected to the symptoms and increase the risk of cold hypersensitivity. In addition, there is data showing that some herbal medicines act on this protein, which may be useful in selecting treatment methods.
Until now, experts have pointed to female hormone disturbances, autonomic nervous system imbalances and other factors as the mechanism behind cold hypersensitivity. On the other hand, past research had suggested a genetic factor, as more than 60% of women with excessive sensitivity to cold also have mothers with symptoms, but there had reportedly never been a comprehensive genetic analysis of this.
Tetsuhiro Yoshino, a specially-appointed Chinese medicine lecturer at the center, said, “Cold hypersensitivity is not just a symptom of being cold but it can also cause pain, which lowers quality of life, and trigger other diseases. In this study, we were able to show that there is a genetic background. If people have painful symptoms, we’d like them not to hesitate to see a doctor.”
(Japanese original by Yurika Tarumi, Lifestyle, Science & Environment News Department)
