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Staabs F, Foverskov Rasmussen H, Buthut M, Höltje M, Li LY, Stöcker W, Teegen B, Prüss H. Brain-targeting autoantibodies in patients with dementia. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1412813. [PMID: 39050125 PMCID: PMC11266002 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1412813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Autoantibodies against proteins in the brain are increasingly considered as a potential cause of cognitive decline, not only in subacute autoimmune encephalopathies but also in slowly progressing impairment of memory in patients with classical neurodegenerative dementias. In this retrospective cohort study of 161 well-characterized patients with different forms of dementia and 34 controls, we determined the prevalence of immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA autoantibodies to brain proteins using unbiased immunofluorescence staining of unfixed murine brain sections. Autoantibodies were detected in 21.1% of dementia patients and in 2.9% of gender-matched controls, with higher frequencies in vascular dementia (42%), Alzheimer's disease (30%), dementia of unknown cause (25%), and subjective cognitive impairment (16.7%). Underlying antigens involved glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), glycine receptor, and Rho GTPase activating protein 26 (ARHGAP26), but also a range of yet undetermined epitopes on neurons, myelinated fiber tracts, choroid plexus, glial cells, and blood vessels. Antibody-positive patients were younger than antibody-negative patients but did not differ in the extent of cognitive impairment, epidemiological and clinical factors, or comorbidities. Further research is needed to understand the potential contribution to disease progression and symptomatology, and to determine the antigenic targets of dementia-associated autoantibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Finja Staabs
- Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helle Foverskov Rasmussen
- Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Buthut
- Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Markus Höltje
- Institute of Integrative Neuroanatomy Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universiät Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lucie Y. Li
- Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Winfried Stöcker
- Clinical Immunological Laboratory Prof. Stöcker, Groß Grönau, Germany
| | - Bianca Teegen
- Clinical Immunological Laboratory Prof. Stöcker, Groß Grönau, Germany
| | - Harald Prüss
- Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Gong X, Wang N, Zhu H, Tang N, Wu K, Meng Q. Anti-NMDAR antibodies, the blood-brain barrier, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1283511. [PMID: 38145121 PMCID: PMC10748502 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1283511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is an antibody-related autoimmune encephalitis. It is characterized by the existence of antibodies against NMDAR, mainly against the GluN1 subunit, in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Recent research suggests that anti-NMDAR antibodies may reduce NMDAR levels in this disorder, compromising synaptic activity in the hippocampus. Although anti-NMDAR antibodies are used as diagnostic indicators, the origin of antibodies in the central nervous system (CNS) is unclear. The blood-brain barrier (BBB), which separates the brain from the peripheral circulatory system, is crucial for antibodies and immune cells to enter or exit the CNS. The findings of cytokines in this disorder support the involvement of the BBB. Here, we aim to review the function of NMDARs and the relationship between anti-NMDAR antibodies and anti-NMDAR encephalitis. We summarize the present knowledge of the composition of the BBB, especially by emphasizing the role of BBB components. Finally, we further provide a discussion on the impact of BBB dysfunction in anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiarong Gong
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Department of MR, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Niya Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Hongyan Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ning Tang
- Department of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Kunhua Wu
- Department of MR, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Qiang Meng
- Department of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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Brandl S, Reindl M. Blood-Brain Barrier Breakdown in Neuroinflammation: Current In Vitro Models. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12699. [PMID: 37628879 PMCID: PMC10454051 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier, which is formed by tightly interconnected microvascular endothelial cells, separates the brain from the peripheral circulation. Together with other central nervous system-resident cell types, including pericytes and astrocytes, the blood-brain barrier forms the neurovascular unit. Upon neuroinflammation, this barrier becomes leaky, allowing molecules and cells to enter the brain and to potentially harm the tissue of the central nervous system. Despite the significance of animal models in research, they may not always adequately reflect human pathophysiology. Therefore, human models are needed. This review will provide an overview of the blood-brain barrier in terms of both health and disease. It will describe all key elements of the in vitro models and will explore how different compositions can be utilized to effectively model a variety of neuroinflammatory conditions. Furthermore, it will explore the existing types of models that are used in basic research to study the respective pathologies thus far.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Markus Reindl
- Clinical Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
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