They find the causes of giant cell arteritis, which can cause blindness

Scientists from the López Neyra Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine, belonging to the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), researchers attached to the Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada, and in collaboration with hospitals and other Spanish institutions, have found possible causes of cell arteritis giants, a chronic disease that can cause blindness.

Giant cell arteritis is a type of complex systemic vasculitis, in whose development genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors participate, and it is a rare disease, so its prevalence is very low and affects approximately 10 out of every 100.000 people over 50 years. Although its exact cause is not yet known, researchers from Professor Javier Martín's group have demonstrated the crucial role that monocytes play in the inflammatory processes characteristic of this disease.

One of the main diagnostic methods is the biopsy of the temporal artery, located in the temple area, a procedure that is invasive. Patients can present a wide range of symptoms, including serious complications such as permanent vision loss or cerebral infarction. Glucocorticoids are the first treatment option for this disease, drugs that reduce the intense systemic inflammation that occurs, preventing the appearance of serious symptoms, although it also brings with it the appearance of important adverse effects.

The objective of the research has been to study the role of monocytes, a type of cell of the immune system, in patients with the disease. To do this, they compared the DNA methylation profile or methylome, a set of modifications present in DNA, and the gene expression profile or transcriptome of this cell type between 82 patients with giant cell arteritis and 30 healthy individuals. The patients were classified into three different clinical states, including patients with and without treatment with glucocorticoids, according to the CSIC.

The results of the study have revealed a global alteration of the biological processes in the monocytes of patients with giant cell arteritis, which has allowed a better understanding of the role of these cells in the systemic inflammation produced in the disease. Specifically, the monocytes of patients with active symptoms show a high inflammatory activity. In addition, they have also shown that glucocorticoid treatment reverses the inflammatory state of affected monocytes.

The research has allowed a deeper understanding of the biological processes involved in the development of giant cell arteritis. These findings could be transferred to clinical practice through the possible identification of biomarkers, which would help facilitate the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis and optimize the treatment of patients with this severe disease.

The article has been prepared in collaboration with researchers from the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and the Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada.