Bioterror chemical from Gulf War shown to cause long-term genetic damage.

By Brian Cole

Published on March 16, 2006

Sarin is a toxic chemical that is believed to cause what is now know as "Gulf War Syndrome." The researchers believe their findings show that the duration of a sarin exposure can continue for years or decades after the initial exposure by altering the gene expression of proteins critical to brain function. The researchers measured 65 different genes with altered expressions in rats exposed to sarin for 15 minutes. Three months after the exposure, 28 genes remained altered. Three months of a rat's life is equivalent to about 20 years of human life.

Many U.S. soldiers were exposed to sarin during the Gulf War when Iraq's chemical weapons were destroyed. In 1995, a terrorist attack on a Tokyo subway exposed riders to sarin.

The researchers believe the altered genes control memory, thinking, mood, muscle control and various other functions of the brain. Gulf War veterans exposed to sarin have complained of chronic fatigue, muscle and joint pain, weakness, forgetfulness, loss of concentration and irritability.

The results from this new study could lead to the creation of a blood test for sarin exposure. It could also lead doctors to target affected genes in order to treat people who have been exposed to the chemical.

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