Study Sheds Light on Guillain-Barré Syndrome Pathophysiology

Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) can be a challenge as the underlying mechanisms of the autoimmune disease are largely unknown. Now, a recent study led by Daniela Latorre from the Institute of Microbiology at ETH Zurich and published in Nature sheds light on a crucial aspect of GBS pathophysiology.

For the study the team used an experimental approach that combined in vitro screening, single-cell RNA sequencing, the generation of single T cell clones, and TCR sequencing.

Among the findings was that T lymphocytes invade nerve tissue, targeting the myelin covering nerve fibers. “We found that these autoreactive T lymphocytes were exclusive to patients with a type of GBS characterized by nerve demyelination and showed a specific disease-associated signature, distinguishing them from healthy individuals,” Latorre explains. 

The study further revealed T lymphocytes reactive to both self-antigens and viral antigens in post-viral GBS patients, establishing a direct link between disease development and preceding infections.

Current treatments are effective for many GBS patients, but they lack specificity, and around 20% of patients remain severely disabled or die. The new study offers novel insights into our understanding of GBS, opening avenues for further investigations on larger patient groups to decipher immune mechanisms in different GBS variants.