Scientists finally solve genetic mystery of how diseases start

Scientists in a recent breakthrough have discovered hidden connections between genes and major diseases, paving the way for revolutionary treatments.

The research was carried out through a joint collaboration between Gladstone Institutes and Stanford University, led by Alex Marson, MD, PhD, and Jonathan Pritchard, PhD.

According to findings published in the journal Nature, the researchers have developed a new and ground-breaking genomic mapping strategy to demonstrate how thousands of genes interact within a network to cause a disease.

This approach has surpassed the traditional "genome-wide association studies," which can only identify which genes are responsible for a specific disease.

However, this genomic mapping explains how and why genes influence certain biological traits.

“We can now look across every gene in the genome and get a sense of how each one affects a particular cell type. Our goal is to use this information as a map to gain new insights into how certain genes influence specific traits,” says Gladstone Senior Investigator Alex Marson.

The mapping could pave a way for better immunology. By understanding the mechanism behind the genetic pathways and their association with cells function could redefine both biology and drug development.

“The genetic burden associated with many autoimmune diseases, immune deficiencies, and allergies are overwhelmingly linked to T cells,” Marson says.

“We look forward to developing additional detailed maps that will help us really understand the genetic architecture behind these immune-mediated diseases,” he added.

Although the study is primarily focused on red blood cells, the mapping strategy could be applied to any cell type, offering a hope for complex diseases, such as cancer and autoimmune diseases.