Progress in the research of autoimmune diseases in UPV

2001/12/19 Agirre Ruiz de Arkaute, Aitziber - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Genetika
• Medikuntza

The research carried out by Ana Zubiaga and her team can be an important advance in the origin of autoimmune diseases. The results of this study indicate that the E2F2 gene has a lot to do with this type of disease.

The body usually qualifies its tissues and organs as its own and only acts against external substances and foreign living beings. However, in autoimmune diseases, the body causes antibodies against itself, that is, it loses autotolisis, seriously affecting its tissues and organs.

in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, antibodies act against DNA.

Genetic and infective agents, but also environmental factors, are involved in their training. So far, however, it has not been clear what these genetic factors can be. However, the team of Ana Zubiaga has been able to see in the mouse that the E2F2 gene is the cause of its mutation.

Although until now the function of this gene was unknown, according to the results of this group of the University of the Basque Country, mice with this mutated gene develop autoimmunity, a disease similar to systemic lupus erythematosus.

Although for the moment they have only been treated in the mouse, it will be necessary to analyze if in people can influence the mutation of this gene. If so, the research of this group can be a major step forward in understanding this type of disease.