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Arlt FA, Miske R, Machule ML, Broegger Christensen P, Mindorf S, Teegen B, Borowski K, Buthut M, Rößling R, Sánchez-Sendín E, van Hoof S, Cordero-Gómez C, Bünger I, Radbruch H, Kraft A, Ayzenberg I, Klausewitz J, Hansen N, Timäus C, Körtvelyessy P, Postert T, Baur-Seack K, Rost C, Brunkhorst R, Doppler K, Haigis N, Hamann G, Kunze A, Stützer A, Maschke M, Melzer N, Rosenow F, Siebenbrodt K, Stenør C, Dichgans M, Georgakis MK, Fang R, Petzold GC, Görtler M, Zerr I, Wunderlich S, Mihaljevic I, Turko P, Schmidt Ettrup M, Buchholz E, Foverskov Rasmussen H, Nasouti M, Talucci I, Maric HM, Heinemann SH, Endres M, Komorowski L, Prüss H. KCNA2 IgG autoimmunity in neuropsychiatric diseases. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 117:399-411. [PMID: 38309639 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.01.220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autoantibodies against the potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 2 (KCNA2) have been described in a few cases of neuropsychiatric disorders, but their diagnostic and pathophysiological role is currently unknown, imposing challenges to medical practice. DESIGN / METHODS We retrospectively collected comprehensive clinical and paraclinical data of 35 patients with KCNA2 IgG autoantibodies detected in cell-based and tissue-based assays. Patients' sera and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were used for characterization of the antigen, clinical-serological correlations, and determination of IgG subclasses. RESULTS KCNA2 autoantibody-positive patients (n = 35, median age at disease onset of 65 years, range of 16-83 years, 74 % male) mostly presented with cognitive impairment and/or epileptic seizures but also ataxia, gait disorder and personality changes. Serum autoantibodies belonged to IgG3 and IgG1 subclasses and titers ranged from 1:32 to 1:10,000. KCNA2 IgG was found in the CSF of 8/21 (38 %) patients and in the serum of 4/96 (4.2 %) healthy blood donors. KCNA2 autoantibodies bound to characteristic anatomical areas in the cerebellum and hippocampus of mammalian brain and juxtaparanodal regions of peripheral nerves but reacted exclusively with intracellular epitopes. A subset of four KCNA2 autoantibody-positive patients responded markedly to immunotherapy alongside with conversion to seronegativity, in particular those presenting an autoimmune encephalitis phenotype and receiving early immunotherapy. An available brain biopsy showed strong immune cell invasion. KCNA2 autoantibodies occurred in less than 10 % in association with an underlying tumor. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that KCNA2 autoimmunity is clinically heterogeneous. Future studies should determine whether KCNA2 autoantibodies are directly pathogenic or develop secondarily. Early immunotherapy should be considered, in particular if autoantibodies occur in CSF or if clinical or diagnostic findings suggest ongoing inflammation. Suspicious clinical phenotypes include autoimmune encephalitis, atypical dementia, new-onset epilepsy and unexplained epileptic seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike A Arlt
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ramona Miske
- Institute for Experimental Immunology, affiliated to EUROIMMUN Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Marie-Luise Machule
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Swantje Mindorf
- Institute for Experimental Immunology, affiliated to EUROIMMUN Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Bianca Teegen
- Clinical immunological Laboratory Prof. Stöcker, Groß Grönau, Germany
| | - Kathrin Borowski
- Clinical immunological Laboratory Prof. Stöcker, Groß Grönau, Germany
| | - Maria Buthut
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rosa Rößling
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisa Sánchez-Sendín
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Scott van Hoof
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - César Cordero-Gómez
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Isabel Bünger
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helena Radbruch
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Kraft
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Martha-Maria, Halle, Germany
| | - Ilya Ayzenberg
- Department of Neurology, St Josef-Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jaqueline Klausewitz
- Department of Neurology, St Josef-Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Niels Hansen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Göttingen Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Charles Timäus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Göttingen Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Peter Körtvelyessy
- Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Postert
- Department of Neurology, St. Vincenz-Krankenhaus Paderborn, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Kirsten Baur-Seack
- Department of Neurology, St. Vincenz-Krankenhaus Paderborn, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Constanze Rost
- Department of Neurology, St. Vincenz-Krankenhaus Paderborn, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Robert Brunkhorst
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Doppler
- Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Niklas Haigis
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Hamann
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Rehabilitation, BKH Günzburg, Günzburg, Germany
| | - Albrecht Kunze
- Department of Neurology, Zentralklinik Bad Berka, Bad Berka, Germany
| | - Alexandra Stützer
- Department of Neurology, Zentralklinik Bad Berka, Bad Berka, Germany
| | - Matthias Maschke
- Department of Neurology, Campus Trier, University of Mainz, Trier, Germany
| | - Nico Melzer
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Felix Rosenow
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt on the Main, Germany; LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Kai Siebenbrodt
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt on the Main, Germany; LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Christian Stenør
- Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev-Gentofte, Denmark
| | - Martin Dichgans
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marios K Georgakis
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Rong Fang
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Gabor C Petzold
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Division of Vascular Neurology, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Görtler
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Silke Wunderlich
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Paul Turko
- Institute for Integrative Neuroanatomy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Emilie Buchholz
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helle Foverskov Rasmussen
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mahoor Nasouti
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ivan Talucci
- Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Rudolf Virchow Center, Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hans M Maric
- Rudolf Virchow Center, Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stefan H Heinemann
- Friedrich Schiller University and Jena University Hospital, Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Department of Biophysics, Jena, Germany
| | - Matthias Endres
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Komorowski
- Institute for Experimental Immunology, affiliated to EUROIMMUN Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Harald Prüss
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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4
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Gullulu O, Ozcelik E, Tuzlakoglu Ozturk M, Karagoz MS, Tazebay UH. A multi-faceted approach to unravel coding and non-coding gene fusions and target chimeric proteins in ataxia. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-21. [PMID: 38411012 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2321510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Ataxia represents a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by a loss of balance and coordination, often resulting from mutations in genes vital for cerebellar function and maintenance. Recent advances in genomics have identified gene fusion events as critical contributors to various cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. However, their role in ataxia pathogenesis remains largely unexplored. Our study Hdelved into this possibility by analyzing RNA sequencing data from 1443 diverse samples, including cell and mouse models, patient samples, and healthy controls. We identified 7067 novel gene fusions, potentially pivotal in disease onset. These fusions, notably in-frame, could produce chimeric proteins, disrupt gene regulation, or introduce new functions. We observed conservation of specific amino acids at fusion breakpoints and identified potential aggregate formations in fusion proteins, known to contribute to ataxia. Through AI-based protein structure prediction, we identified topological changes in three high-confidence fusion proteins-TEN1-ACOX1, PEX14-NMNAT1, and ITPR1-GRID2-which could potentially alter their functions. Subsequent virtual drug screening identified several molecules and peptides with high-affinity binding to fusion sites. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability of these protein-ligand complexes at fusion breakpoints. Additionally, we explored the role of non-coding RNA fusions as miRNA sponges. One such fusion, RP11-547P4-FLJ33910, showed strong interaction with hsa-miR-504-5p, potentially acting as its sponge. This interaction correlated with the upregulation of hsa-miR-504-5p target genes, some previously linked to ataxia. In conclusion, our study unveils new aspects of gene fusions in ataxia, suggesting their significant role in pathogenesis and opening avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omer Gullulu
- Department of Structural Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Emrah Ozcelik
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Gebze Technical University, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
- Central Research Laboratory (GTU-MAR), Gebze Technical University, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Merve Tuzlakoglu Ozturk
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Gebze Technical University, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
- Central Research Laboratory (GTU-MAR), Gebze Technical University, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Safa Karagoz
- Institut für Mikrobiologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Uygar Halis Tazebay
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Gebze Technical University, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
- Central Research Laboratory (GTU-MAR), Gebze Technical University, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
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5
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Bartley CM, Ngo TT, Duy Do L, Zekeridou A, Dandekar R, Muñiz-Castrillo S, Alvarenga BD, Zorn KC, Tubati A, Pinto AL, Browne WD, Hullett PW, Terrelonge M, Schubert RD, Piquet AL, Yang B, Montalvo Perero MJ, Kung AF, Mann SA, Shah MP, Geschwind MD, Gelfand JM, DeRisi JL, Pittock SJ, Honnorat J, Pleasure SJ, Wilson MR. Detection of High-Risk Paraneoplastic Antibodies against TRIM9 and TRIM67 Proteins. Ann Neurol 2023; 94:1086-1101. [PMID: 37632288 PMCID: PMC10842626 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Co-occurring anti-tripartite motif-containing protein 9 and 67 autoantibodies (TRIM9/67-IgG) have been reported in only a very few cases of paraneoplastic cerebellar syndrome. The value of these biomarkers and the most sensitive methods of TRIM9/67-IgG detection are not known. METHODS We performed a retrospective, multicenter study to evaluate the cerebrospinal fluid and serum of candidate TRIM9/67-IgG cases by tissue-based immunofluorescence, peptide phage display immunoprecipitation sequencing, overexpression cell-based assay (CBA), and immunoblot. Cases in which TRIM9/67-IgG was detected by at least 2 assays were considered TRIM9/67-IgG positive. RESULTS Among these cases (n = 13), CBA was the most sensitive (100%) and revealed that all cases had TRIM9 and TRIM67 autoantibodies. Of TRIM9/67-IgG cases with available clinical history, a subacute cerebellar syndrome was the most common presentation (n = 7/10), followed by encephalitis (n = 3/10). Of these 10 patients, 70% had comorbid cancer (7/10), 85% of whom (n = 6/7) had confirmed metastatic disease. All evaluable cancer biopsies expressed TRIM9 protein (n = 5/5), whose expression was elevated in the cancerous regions of the tissue in 4 of 5 cases. INTERPRETATION TRIM9/67-IgG is a rare but likely high-risk paraneoplastic biomarker for which CBA appears to be the most sensitive diagnostic assay. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:1086-1101.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Bartley
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, California
| | - Thomas T. Ngo
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Le Duy Do
- French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes and Autoimmune Encephalitis, Hospices Civils de Lyon and SynatAc Team, Institut MELiS, INSERM U1314/CNRS UMR 5284, Universités de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Anastasia Zekeridou
- Department of Neurology, Center MS and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic
| | - Ravi Dandekar
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Sergio Muñiz-Castrillo
- French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes and Autoimmune Encephalitis, Hospices Civils de Lyon and SynatAc Team, Institut MELiS, INSERM U1314/CNRS UMR 5284, Universités de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Bonny D. Alvarenga
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Kelsey C. Zorn
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Asritha Tubati
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Anne-Laurie Pinto
- French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes and Autoimmune Encephalitis, Hospices Civils de Lyon and SynatAc Team, Institut MELiS, INSERM U1314/CNRS UMR 5284, Universités de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Weston D. Browne
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Patrick W. Hullett
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Mark Terrelonge
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Ryan D. Schubert
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Amanda L. Piquet
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Binxia Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic
| | | | - Andrew F. Kung
- University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, California
| | - Sabrina A. Mann
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Maulik P. Shah
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Michael D. Geschwind
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Jeffrey M. Gelfand
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Joseph L. DeRisi
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Sean J. Pittock
- Department of Neurology, Center MS and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic
| | - Jérôme Honnorat
- French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes and Autoimmune Encephalitis, Hospices Civils de Lyon and SynatAc Team, Institut MELiS, INSERM U1314/CNRS UMR 5284, Universités de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Samuel J. Pleasure
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Michael R. Wilson
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
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6
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Wischmann J, Borowski K, Havla J, Thaler FS, Winkler T, Jung T, Straube A, Masouris I. Case report: Anti septin-5-encephalitis as a treatable cause of cerebellar ataxia and psychiatric symptoms. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1220295. [PMID: 37435157 PMCID: PMC10331165 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1220295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Anti-septin-5 encephalitis is a rare disease with only few published cases, mainly based on retrospective CSF and serum analyses. Predominant symptoms are cerebellar ataxia and oculomotor abnormalities. Due to the rareness of the disease, treatment recommendations are scarce. Herein, we prospectively describe the clinical course of a female patient with anti-septin-5 encephalitis. Methods We describe diagnostic workup, treatment and follow-up of a 54-year-old patient presenting with vertigo, unsteady gait, lack of drive and behavioral changes. Results Clinical examination revealed severe cerebellar ataxia, saccadic smooth pursuit, upbeat-nystagmus, and dysarthria. Additionally, the patient presented with a depressive syndrome. MRI of the brain and spinal cord were normal. CSF analysis showed lymphocytic pleocytosis (11 cells/μl). Extensive antibody testing revealed anti septin-5 IgG in both CSF and serum without coexisting anti-neuronal antibodies. PET/CT detected no signs of malignancy. Corticosteroids, plasma exchange, and rituximab led to transient clinical improvement followed by relapse. Re-applied treatment with plasma exchange followed by bortezomib resulted in moderate but sustained clinical improvement. Discussion Anti septin-5 encephalitis represents a rare but treatable and therefore relevant differential diagnosis in patients with cerebellar ataxia. Psychiatric symptoms can be observed in anti septin-5 encephalitis. Immunosuppressive treatment including bortezomib is moderately effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Wischmann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Kathrin Borowski
- Clinical Immunological Laboratory Prof. Dr. med. Winfried Stöcker, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Joachim Havla
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
- Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Franziska S. Thaler
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
- Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Winkler
- Department of Neurology, kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum, Wasserburg am Inn, Germany
| | - Tobias Jung
- Department of Neurology, kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum, Wasserburg am Inn, Germany
| | - Andreas Straube
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Ilias Masouris
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
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