In a mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), anti-NMDA receptor antibodies have been shown to gain access to the brain during stress, specifically damaging the amygdala (a part of the brain that is involved in emotion) and causing altered emotional responses. In a paper published in PLoS Medicine from Leiden University Medical Center of 37 patients with neuropsychiatric SLE, 21 patients with SLE, and a group of 12 healthy control participants, damage was found in the amygdala of patients with SLE, especially in patients with anti-NMDA receptor antibodies. These results offer a glimpse into the interaction between the immune system and the brain.
A related perspective article by Betty Diamond and Bruce Volpe discusses the findings further.
Citation: Emmer BJ, van der Grond G, Steup-Beekman GM, Huizinga TWJ, van Buchem MA (2006) Selective involvement of the amygdala in systemic lupus erythematosus. PLoS Med 3(12): e499.
PLEASE ADD THE LINK TO THE PUBLISHED ARTICLE IN ONLINE VERSIONS OF YOUR REPORT: http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/"request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0030499
PRESS-ONLY PREVIEW OF THE ARTICLE: http://www.plos.org/press/plme-03-12-emmer.pdf
CONTACT:
Bart Emmer
Leiden University Medical Center
Department of Radiology
Albinusdreef 2
Leiden, Zuid Holland 2300 RC, Netherlands
+31-71-5271322
+31-71-5248256 (fax)
b.j.emmer@lumc.nl
Related PLoS Medicine Perspectives article:
Citation: Diamond B, Volpe BT (2006) Antibodies and brain disease: A convergence of immunology and physiology. PLoS Med 3(12): e498.
PLEASE ADD THE LINK TO THE PUBLISHED ARTICLE IN ONLINE VERSIONS OF YOUR REPORT: http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/"request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0030498
PRESS-ONLY PREVIEW OF THE ARTICLE: http://www.plos.org/press/plme-03-12-diamond.pdf
CONTACT:
Betty Diamond
Columbia University Medical Center
Department of Medicine
New York, NY, United States of America
+1 212-851-4576
bd2137@columbia.edu
Interferon-regulated chemokines and SLE
A comprehensive survey of the serologic proteome in human SLE suggests that severely disrupted chemokine gradients may contribute to the systemic autoimmunity observed.
Citation: Bauer JW, Baechler EC, Petri M, Batliwalla FM, Crawford D, et al. (2006) Elevated serum levels of interferon-regulated chemokines are biomarkers for active human systemic lupus erythematosus. PLoS Med 3(12): e491.
PLEASE ADD THE LINK TO THE PUBLISHED ARTICLE IN ONLINE VERSIONS OF YOUR REPORT: http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/"request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0030491
PRESS-ONLY PREVIEW OF THE ARTICLE: http://www.plos.org/press/plme-03-12-behrens.pdf
CONTACT:
Timothy Behrens
University of Minnesota Medical School
Centre for Immunology
Minneapolis, MN 55305
United States of America
+1 612 625-4485
+1 612 625-2199 (fax)
behre001@umn.edu
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