Back to Search
Start Over
Human lupus autoantibodies against NMDA receptors mediate cognitive impairment
- Source :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 103:19854-19859
- Publication Year :
- 2006
- Publisher :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2006.
-
Abstract
- Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus, which often entails cognitive disturbances and memory loss, has become a major complication for lupus patients. Previously, we developed a murine model of neuropsychiatric lupus based on Abs that cross-react with dsDNA and the NMDA receptor (NMDAR). We showed that these murine Abs impair cognition when they access the CNS through a breach in the blood–brain barrier (BBB) triggered by lipopolysaccharide. Because studies show that lupus patients possess anti-NMDAR Abs in their serum and cerebrospinal fluid, we decided to investigate whether these human Abs contribute to cognitive dysfunction. Here, we show that serum with reactivity to DNA and NMDAR extracted from lupus patients elicited cognitive impairment in mice receiving the serum intravenously and given lipopolysaccharide to compromise the BBB integrity. Brain histopathology showed hippocampal neuron damage, and behavioral testing revealed hippocampus-dependent memory impairment. To determine whether anti-NMDAR Abs exist in the brains of systemic lupus erythematosus patients, we eluted IgG from a patient's brain. The IgG bound DNA and NMDAR and caused neuronal apoptosis when injected into mouse brains. We examined four more brains of patients with neuropsychiatric lupus and found that they displayed endogenous IgG colocalizing with anti-NMDAR Abs. Our results indicate that lupus patients have circulating anti-NMDAR Abs capable of causing neuronal damage and memory deficit, if they breach the BBB, and that the Abs exist within patients' brains. Which aspects of neuropsychiatric lupus may be mediated by anti-NMDAR Abs, how often, and in which patients are now important clinical questions.
- Subjects :
- Lipopolysaccharides
medicine.medical_specialty
Lipopolysaccharide
Endogeny
Hippocampus
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
Mice
chemistry.chemical_compound
Cerebrospinal fluid
immune system diseases
medicine
Animals
Humans
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
Memory impairment
skin and connective tissue diseases
Autoantibodies
Neurons
Memory Disorders
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Multidisciplinary
Systemic lupus erythematosus
business.industry
Autoantibody
DNA
Biological Sciences
medicine.disease
nervous system
chemistry
Immunology
NMDA receptor
Female
Histopathology
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10916490 and 00278424
- Volume :
- 103
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....faa862bd66c4ba85aefa8030ffb403fb