The scientific team of the Cantoblanco Genomics Unit has participated, along with researchers from the Institute for Research in Hunting Resources (IREC) of CSIC and bioinformaticians from Era7 Bioinformatics, in research conducted by the National Hospital for Paraplegics on Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that affects the nervous system and causes progressive paralysis of the body’s muscles in the patient. So far, there is no specific cure, although treatments with high doses of immunoglobulins reduce the severity of symptoms and accelerate recovery in most patients.
This study aimed to monitor at a genomic scale the different phases of recovery experienced by affected patients, in order to identify biomarkers associated with disease remission. For this purpose, Massive Sequencing was chosen for its ability to simultaneously and rapidly evaluate a large number of genes in a patient.
The study was conducted sequentially. Initially, the active genes in the blood of a patient were characterized throughout the entire process of damage and recovery. Subsequently, the findings were contrasted with a larger series of patients, and patients with other pathologies were included to ensure the consistency of the results and rule out effects due to treatment.
The main finding of this research has been the discovery of a molecule (EGR2) that could modulate the immune response that controls the progression or remission of the disease. This milestone could lay the foundation for a future drug that acts on this target and facilitates a specific treatment for this disorder.
