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Deutsch NR, Worthmann H, Steixner-Kumar AA, Schuppner R, Grosse GM, Pan H, Gabriel MM, Hasse I, van Gemmeren T, Lichtinghagen R, Ehrenreich H, Weissenborn K. Autoantibodies against the NMDAR subunit NR1 are associated with neuropsychiatric outcome after ischemic stroke. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 96:73-79. [PMID: 34010714 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Preexisting autoantibodies against N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor subunit NR1 (NMDAR1-AB) in acute ischemic stroke patients with previously intact blood-brain-barrier were associated with smaller evolution of lesion size. Effects of chronic exposure to NMDAR1-AB long after stroke, however, have remained unclear. We investigated in a prospective follow-up study whether long-term neuropsychiatric outcome after stroke differs depending on NMDAR1-AB status. METHODS Blood samples for NMDAR1-AB analysis were collected within 24 h after ischemic stroke from n = 114 patients. Outcome was assessed 1-3 years later using NIHSS, modified Rankin-scale, Barthel-Index, RBANS (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status) subcategories (immediate/delayed memory, attention, visuoconstruction), anamnesis evaluating neuropsychiatric symptoms (e.g. hallucinations, psychomotor slowing, reduced alertness, depressiveness, fatigue) and questionnaires (Beck's Depression Inventory-BDI, Fatigue Impact Scale-FIS). Scores were generated to cover RBANS plus neuropsychiatric symptoms (Score A; n = 96) or only neuropsychiatric symptoms (Score B; n = 114, including patients unable to conduct RBANS). Depression/fatigue were measured in patients, capable to perform questionnaires (n = 86). RESULTS NMDAR1-AB (IgM, IgA, IgG) were detected in n = 27 patients (23.7%). NMDAR1-AB seropositive patients showed inferior results in Score A (p = 0.006), Score B (p = 0.004), BDI (p = 0.013) and FIS (p = 0.018), compared to seronegative patients. Multiple regression analysis including covariates age, NIHSS at day 7 post-stroke, and days from stroke to follow-up, showed NMDAR1-AB seropositivity associated with worse outcome in Scores A (b: 1.517, 95%CI: 0.505-2.529, p = 0.004) and B (b: 0.803, 95%CI: 0.233-1.373; p = 0.006). Also FIS was unfavorably associated with NMDAR1-AB seropositivity (binary logistic regression: OR: 3.904, 95%CI: 1.200-12.695; p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS Even though the numbers of included patients are low, our data apparently indicate that NMDAR1-AB seropositivity at the time point of acute ischemic stroke is associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms including cognitive dysfunction and fatigue years after stroke. Preclinical proof of a causal relation provided, targeted immunosuppression may be a future prophylactic option to be clinically evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine R Deutsch
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Hans Worthmann
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Agnes A Steixner-Kumar
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ramona Schuppner
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Gerrit M Grosse
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Hong Pan
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maria M Gabriel
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Isabel Hasse
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Till van Gemmeren
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Ralf Lichtinghagen
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Hannelore Ehrenreich
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Karin Weissenborn
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
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Autoantibodies against NMDA receptor 1 modify rather than cause encephalitis. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:7746-7759. [PMID: 34331009 PMCID: PMC8872987 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01238-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The etiology and pathogenesis of "anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis" and the role of autoantibodies (AB) in this condition are still obscure. While NMDAR1-AB exert NMDAR-antagonistic properties by receptor internalization, no firm evidence exists to date that NMDAR1-AB by themselves induce brain inflammation/encephalitis. NMDAR1-AB of all immunoglobulin classes are highly frequent across mammals with multiple possible inducers and boosters. We hypothesized that "NMDAR encephalitis" results from any primary brain inflammation coinciding with the presence of NMDAR1-AB, which may shape the encephalitis phenotype. Thus, we tested whether following immunization with a "cocktail" of 4 NMDAR1 peptides, induction of a spatially and temporally defined sterile encephalitis by diphtheria toxin-mediated ablation of pyramidal neurons ("DTA" mice) would modify/aggravate the ensuing phenotype. In addition, we tried to replicate a recent report claiming that immunizing just against the NMDAR1-N368/G369 region induced brain inflammation. Mice after DTA induction revealed a syndrome comprising hyperactivity, hippocampal learning/memory deficits, prefrontal cortical network dysfunction, lasting blood brain-barrier impairment, brain inflammation, mainly in hippocampal and cortical regions with pyramidal neuronal death, microgliosis, astrogliosis, modest immune cell infiltration, regional atrophy, and relative increases in parvalbumin-positive interneurons. The presence of NMDAR1-AB enhanced the hyperactivity (psychosis-like) phenotype, whereas all other readouts were identical to control-immunized DTA mice. Non-DTA mice with or without NMDAR1-AB were free of any encephalitic signs. Replication of the reported NMDAR1-N368/G369-immunizing protocol in two large independent cohorts of wild-type mice completely failed. To conclude, while NMDAR1-AB can contribute to the behavioral phenotype of an underlying encephalitis, induction of an encephalitis by NMDAR1-AB themselves remains to be proven.
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