Anti-pan-neurofascin nodopathy: cause of fulminant neuropathy

Autoimmune nodopathies are inflammatory diseases of the peripheral nervous system with clinical and neurophysiological peculiar characteristics. In this nosological category, we find patients with autoantibodies against Neurofascin 140/186 and 155, Contactin1, and Caspr1 directed precisely towards nodal and paranodal structures. These antibodies are extremely rare and cause severe clinical symptoms. We describe the clinical case of a patient with autoimmune nodopathy caused by the coexistence of anti-neurofascin (NF) 186/140 and 155, characterized by progressive weakness in all limbs leading to tetraplegia, involving cranial nerves, and respiratory insufficiency. Response to first-line treatments was good followed by rapid dramatic clinical relapse. There are few reported cases of anti-pan NF neuropathy in the literature, and they present a clinical phenotype similar to our patient. In these cases, early recognition of clinical red flags of nodopathies and serial neurophysiological studies can facilitate the diagnosis. However, the severe clinical relapse suggests a possible early use of immunosuppressive therapies for this rare category of patients.

Growing Spectrum of Autoimmune Nodopathies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Recognition of node of Ranvier as the site of injury in inflammatory neuropathies contributed to discovery of antibodies against the nodal/paranodal structures. These antibodies mediate a unique type of inflammatory neuropathies that are different from typical chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. This review discusses the advancements made in the field of autoimmune neuropathies secondary to antibodies to nodal and paranodal proteins.

RECENT FINDINGS

Neuropathies caused by antibodies to nodal-paranodal antigens including neurofascin 186, neurofascin 155, contactin1, and contactin-associated protein1 were termed as autoimmune nodopathies (AN) in 2021. Since the initial description almost a decade ago, newer cohorts have expanded the clinical spectrum of AN. In addition to IgG4, other subclasses of IgG such as IgG1/IgG3 have been identified, particularly in relation to acute presentations and anti-pan neurofascin antibody disease. In vitro and in vivo studies have also supported antibody-mediated pathogenicity of many of these biomarkers. Antibodies to nodal-paranodal antigens have emerged as a biomarker for a novel type of immune-mediated neuropathies. These antibodies have distinct pathogenic mechanisms and produce a unique set of clinicopathologic features. Their clinical profile and treatment may also vary depending on the antibody isotype. B cell depleting therapies are effective in managing some of these patients.

Antibodies against the node of Ranvier: a real-life evaluation of incidence, clinical features and response to treatment based on a prospective analysis of 1500 sera

INTRODUCTION

IgG4 antibodies against neurofascin (Nfasc155 and Nfasc140/186), contactin (CNTN1) and contactin-associated protein (Caspr1) are described in specific subtypes of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Our objective was to assess, in a real-life practice, the incidence, the clinical features and the response to treatment of these forms of CIDP.

METHODS

1500 sera of patients suspected of having CIDP from France, Belgium and Switzerland were prospectively tested using a flow cytometry technique. The characteristics of patients with antibodies against the node of Ranvier were compared to 100 seronegative CIDP from our department.

RESULTS

IgG4 antibodies against Nfasc155, CNTN1, and Caspr1 were, respectively, detected in 15 (prevalence 1%), 10 (0.7%) and 2 (0.2%) sera. Antibodies specific of the Nfasc140/186 were not detected. All subjects with antibodies against the node of Ranvier fulfilled diagnostic criteria for CIDP. CIDP with anti-Nfasc155 were younger, had more sensory ataxia and postural tremor than seronegative CIDP. CIDP with anti-CNTN1 had more frequent subacute onset and facial paralysis, commoner renal involvement with membranous glomerulonephritis and greater disability, than seronegative CIDP. CIDP with anti-Caspr1 had more frequent respiratory failure and cranial nerve involvement but not more neuropathic pain than seronegative CIDP. Intravenous immunoglobulins were ineffective in most seropositive patients. Rituximab produced dramatic improvement in disability and decreased antibodies titres in 13 seropositive patients (8 with anti-Nfasc155 and 5 with anti-CNTN1 antibodies).

CONCLUSIONS

Although rare, anti-paranodal antibodies are clinically valuable, because they are associated with specific phenotypes and therapeutic response.

NF155-overexpression promotes remyelination and functional restoration in a hypoxic-ischemic mixed neonatal rat forebrain cell culture system

White matter injury caused by perinatal hypoxia-ischemia is characterized by myelination disorders; however, its pathophysiological mechanisms are not fully elucidated. The neurofascin 155 (NF155) protein, expressed in oligodendrocytes, is critical for myelination. Previous findings suggest that NF155 participates in the pathological mechanisms of developmental myelination disorders in hypoxic-ischemic cerebral white matter lesions, and it might regulate cytoskeletal changes. Therefore, we hypothesized that increased NF155 expression during the early stages of hypoxic oligodendrocyte injury helps normalize myelin sheath development and consequently improves neural function by repairing paranodal structures of myelin sheaths and regulating cytoskeletal changes. To test this hypothesis, we established a hypoxic-ischemic, mixed neonatal rat forebrain cell culture model. When NF155 expression was upregulated, synergistic effects occurred between this protein and the paranodal proteins CASPR and contactin. In addition, the expression of Rho GTPase family proteins that regulate key cytoskeletal pathways, myelin sheath structures, and functions were restored, and axonal structures acquired a clear and transparent appearance. These results suggest that NF155 may enable myelin sheath repair by repairing paranodal region structures and regulating oligodendrocyte cytoskeletal mechanisms. Overall, the present study provides new insights into the pathogenesis of hypoxic-ischemic cerebral white matter lesions.

Unique HLA haplotype associations in IgG4 anti-neurofascin 155 antibody-positive chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

To clarify the immunogenetic background of patients with immunoglobulin G (IgG)4 anti-neurofascin 155 (NF155) antibody-positive chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), we genotyped the extended human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haplotypes in 22 Japanese patients with this disorder and compared them with those of healthy Japanese controls. All IgG4 anti-NF155 antibody-positive CIDP patients exclusively carried either HLA-DRB1*15:01-DRB5*01:01-DQA1*01:02-DQB1*06:02 or -(A*24:02)-B*52:01-C*12:02-DRB1*15:02-DRB5*01:02-DQA1*01:03-DQB1*06:01, resulting in significantly increased HLA-DRB1*15, -DRB1*15:01, -DQB1*06:01/06:02, -DQB1*06:02, and -DRB1*15:01-DQB1*06:02 frequencies compared with healthy Japanese controls. These findings indicate the involvement of specific HLA class II molecules in the pathomechanisms of IgG4 anti-NF155 antibody-positive CIDP.

Anti-neurofascin autoantibody and demyelination

Demyelination diseases involving the central and peripheral nervous systems are etiologically heterogeneous with both cell-mediated and humoral immunities playing pathogenic roles. Recently, autoantibodies against nodal and paranodal proteins, such as neurofascin186 (NF186), neurofascin155 (NF155), contactin-1 (CNTN1), contactin-associated protein 1 (CASPR1) and gliomedin, have been discovered in not only chronic demyelinating conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, but also in acute demyelinating conditions, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome. Only a minority of these patients harbor anti-nodal/paranodal protein antibodies; however, these autoantibodies, especially IgG4 subclass autoantibodies to paranodal proteins, are associated with unique features and these conditions are collectively termed nodopathy or paranodopathy. Establishing a concept of IgG4-related nodopathy/paranodopathy contributes to diagnosis and treatment strategy because IgG4 autoantibody-related neurological diseases are often refractory to conventional immunotherapies. IgG4 does not fix complements, or internalize the target antigens, because IgG4 exists in a monovalent bispecific form in vivo. IgG4 autoantibodies can bock protein-protein interaction. Thus, the primary role of IgG4 anti-paranodal protein antibodies may be blockade of interactions between NF155 and CNTN1/CASPR1, leading to conduction failure, which is consistent with the sural nerve pathology presenting paranodal terminal loop detachment from axons with intact internodes in the absence of inflammation. However, it still remains to be elucidated how these autoantibodies belonging to the same IgG4 subclass can cause each IgG4 autoantibody-specific manifestation. Another important issue is to clarify the mechanism by which IgG4 antibodies to nodal/paranodal proteins emerge. IgG4 antibodies develop on chronic antigenic stimulation and can block antibodies that alleviate allergic inflammation by interfering with the binding of allergen-specific IgE to allergens. Thus, environmental antigens cross-reacting with nodal and paranodal proteins may warrant future study.

Parallel fluctuation of anti-neurofascin 155 antibody levels with clinico-electrophysiological findings in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy

BACKGROUND

The long-term clinical course and closely related biomarkers in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) with anti-neurofascin 155 (NF155) antibodies remain to be elucidated.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied the longitudinal clinical courses of three Japanese male anti-NF155 antibody-positive CIDP patients. Anti-NF155 antibody levels were measured by flow cytometry using HEK293 cell lines stably expressing human NF155.

RESULTS

All three patients presented with chronic progressive sensorimotor disturbance, with ages at onset of 16, 26, and 34years old, and they were followed for 58, 31, and 38months, respectively, from the onset. All patients had postural tremor and generalized decreased deep tendon reflexes. Peak cerebrospinal fluid protein levels were >400mg/dl, and nerve conduction studies (NCS) showed severe demyelination patterns. Combined immunotherapies including intravenous immunoglobulin, plasma exchange, corticosteroids, and other immunosuppressants ameliorated clinical severity and NCS abnormalities, with improvements of >10kg in grip strength and at least 20% in F-wave latencies. However, their symptoms exacerbated after the immunotherapies were tapered. Anti-NF155 antibody levels varied in parallel with the clinical and electrophysiological changes, or preceded them.

CONCLUSION

The patients' clinical courses suggest that anti-NF155 antibody levels and NCS findings could be disease activity markers in anti-NF155 antibody-positive CIDP.