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Segal Y, Zekeridou A. Interest of rare autoantibodies in autoimmune encephalitis and paraneoplastic neurological syndromes: the utility (or futility) of rare antibody discovery. Curr Opin Neurol 2024; 37:295-304. [PMID: 38533672 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The increasing recognition and diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) and paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) is partly due to neural autoantibody testing and discovery. The past two decades witnessed an exponential growth in the number of identified neural antibodies. This review aims to summarize recent rare antibody discoveries in the context of central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity and evaluate the ongoing debate about their utility. RECENT FINDINGS In the last 5 years alone 15 novel neural autoantibody specificities were identified. These include rare neural antibody biomarkers of autoimmune encephalitis, cerebellar ataxia or other movement disorders, including multifocal presentations. SUMMARY Although the clinical applications of these rare antibody discoveries may be limited by the low number of positive cases, they still provide important diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahel Segal
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
| | - Anastasia Zekeridou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
- Department of Neurology
- Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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Sørensen NV, Nilsson AC, Orlovska-Waast S, Jeppesen R, Christensen RHB, Benros ME. Antineuronal Autoantibodies in the Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum From 106 Patients With Recent-Onset Depression Compared With 106 Individually Matched Healthy Control Subjects. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 3:1116-1121. [PMID: 37881586 PMCID: PMC10593866 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.10.007] [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: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
No large studies have investigated the prevalence of cerebrospinal fluid antineuronal autoantibodies in isolated depression. In this case-control study comparing 106 patients with isolated depression (ICD-10 code F32) with 106 healthy control subjects, cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples were tested for 7 immunoglobulin G autoantibodies using commercial fixed cell-based assays. To explore validity of methods, positive samples were retested twice by cell-based assays and once by tissue-based assays (monkey cerebellum). The prevalence of any of the antineuronal autoantibodies in cerebrospinal fluid was 0.0% in both groups and the seroprevalence was 0.9% in both groups, based on consistent findings in cell-based assays. However, all samples were negative by the tissue-based assay. Evaluation of antineuronal autoantibodies in cerebrospinal fluid cannot be recommended routinely for patients with isolated depression of moderate severity. Future studies of isolated depression should consider much larger sample sizes and evaluation of antineuronal autoantibodies using modalities other than commercial kits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Vindegaard Sørensen
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Christine Nilsson
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Sonja Orlovska-Waast
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Rose Jeppesen
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Michael Eriksen Benros
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Feichtinger RG, Preisel M, Brugger K, Wortmann SB, Mayr JA. Case Report-An Inherited Loss-of-Function NRXN3 Variant Potentially Causes a Neurodevelopmental Disorder with Autism Consistent with Previously Described 14q24.3-31.1 Deletions. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1217. [PMID: 37372397 DOI: 10.3390/genes14061217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heterozygous, large-scale deletions at 14q24.3-31.1 affecting the neurexin-3 gene have been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. Both "de novo" occurrences and inheritance from a healthy parent suggest incomplete penetrance and expressivity, especially in autism spectrum disorder. NRXN3 encodes neurexin-3, a neuronal cell surface protein involved in cell recognition and adhesion, as well as mediating intracellular signaling. NRXN3 is expressed in two distinct isoforms (alpha and beta) generated by alternative promoters and splicing. MM/Results: Using exome sequencing, we identified a monoallelic frameshift variant c.159_160del (p.Gln54AlafsTer50) in the NRXN3 beta isoform (NM_001272020.2) in a 5-year-old girl with developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, and behavioral issues. This variant was inherited from her mother, who did not have any medical complaints. DISCUSSION This is the first detailed report of a loss-of-function variant in NRXN3 causing an identical phenotype, as reported for heterozygous large-scale deletions in the same genomic region, thereby confirming NRXN3 as a novel gene for neurodevelopmental disorders with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- René G Feichtinger
- University Children's Hospital, Salzburger Landeskliniken (SALK) und Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Martin Preisel
- University Children's Hospital, Salzburger Landeskliniken (SALK) und Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Karin Brugger
- University Children's Hospital, Salzburger Landeskliniken (SALK) und Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Saskia B Wortmann
- University Children's Hospital, Salzburger Landeskliniken (SALK) und Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), 5020 Salzburg, Austria
- Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboudumc, 6525 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes A Mayr
- University Children's Hospital, Salzburger Landeskliniken (SALK) und Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), 5020 Salzburg, Austria
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Neurexin-3α-associated autoimmune encephalitis with intracranial diffuse large B lymphoma diagnosed on FDG and TSPO PET/MRI. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2023; 50:1270-1272. [PMID: 36471040 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-022-06054-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Hansen N, Neyazi A, Lüdecke D, Hasan A, Wiltfang J, Malchow B. Repositioning synthetic glucocorticoids in psychiatric disease associated with neural autoantibodies: a narrative review. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2022:10.1007/s00702-022-02578-2. [PMID: 36576564 PMCID: PMC10374711 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-022-02578-2] [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: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic glucocorticoids (sGCs) are a well-investigated and standard drug therapy for disorders associated with CNS inflammation. Less is known about treating psychiatric disorders associated with neural autoantibodies. Our aim is to elucidate the repositioning of sGCs in psychiatric diseases that co-exist with neural autoantibodies. We used PubMed to identify articles for this narrative review. To our knowledge, no randomized, placebo-controlled trials have yet been conducted on applying sGC to treat neural autoantibody-associated psychiatric disorders. We describe initial results of cohort studies and single cases or case series often associated with autoantibodies against membrane-surface antigens demonstrating a largely beneficial response to sGCs either as monotherapy or polytherapy together with other immunosuppressive agents. However, sGCs may be less efficient in patients with psychiatric diseases associated with autoantibodies directed against intracellular antigens. These results reveal potential benefits of the novel usage of sGCs for the indication of neural autoantibody-associated psychiatric disease. Further large-scale randomized, placebo-controlled trials are needed to discover whether sGCs are safe, well tolerated, and beneficial in subgroups of neural autoantibody-associated psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Hansen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Alexandra Neyazi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Lüdecke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alkomiet Hasan
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, 86156, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Jens Wiltfang
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075, Goettingen, Germany.,Neurosciences and Signaling Group, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Berend Malchow
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
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Hansen N, Juhl AL, Grenzer IM, Hirschel S, Teegen B, Fitzner D, Bartels C, Timäus C, Wiltfang J, Malchow B. Cerebrospinal Fluid Total Tau Protein Correlates With Longitudinal, Progressing Cognitive Dysfunction in Anti-Neural Autoantibody-Associated Dementia and Alzheimer's Dementia: A Case-Control Study. Front Immunol 2022; 13:837376. [PMID: 35309366 PMCID: PMC8927820 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.837376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Neural autoantibody-associated dementia (NABD) is an increasing phenomenon in memory clinics with a high impact on later therapy. Biomarkers are lacking that differentiate this type of dementia from neurodegenerative dementia such as Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). Our aim is to analyze neurodegeneration markers and their relationship to progressing cognitive dysfunction in NABD and AD to test for tools differentiating these two forms of dementia prior to neural autoantibody testing. Methods In our retrospective, observational study, we investigated 14 patients with dementia and serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neural autoantibodies as well as 14 patients with AD by relying on recent CSF and clinical criteria for AD. Patient files were checked for psychopathology, neuropsychological test performance, autoimmune indicators, CSF, and MRI results. Results Our patient groups did not differ in their psychopathology, autoimmune indicators, or MRI profile. The progression of cognitive dysfunction [as measured by the difference in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores since disease onset, and the yearly progression rate (MMSE loss/per year)] did not vary significantly between groups. Total tau protein was significantly higher in AD patients than NABD patients revealing no signs of Alzheimer’s disease pathology in their CSF (p < 0.05). Total tau protein levels in CSF correlated with cognitive decline since disease onset (r = 0.38, p < 0.05) and yearly progression rates (r = 0.56, p < 0.005) in all patients. Discussion Our results suggest that the progression of cognitive dysfunction as defined by MMSE does not seem to be an appropriate biomarker for distinguishing NABD from AD. However, the total tau protein level in CSF might be a relevant molecular biomarker that can indicate disease pathology and/or progression in both known AD and NABD, which is often accompanied by axonal degeneration. Total tau protein may be an additional diagnostic tool with which to differentiate anti-neural-associated dementia from AD if further research confirms these proof-of-concept findings in larger patient cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Hansen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Aaron Levin Juhl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Insa Maria Grenzer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sina Hirschel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Dirk Fitzner
- Department of Neurology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Bartels
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Charles Timäus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jens Wiltfang
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany.,Neurosciences and Signaling Group, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Berend Malchow
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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