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[Streptococcus pyogenes and the brain: living with the enemy]
1Neurosciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College Londres, Reino Unido. r.dale@ion.ucl.ac.uk
Revista De Neurologia
|July 16, 2003
Summary
Streptococcus pyogenes can cause autoimmune brain disorders like Sydenham's chorea, tics, and OCD. Antibodies from infection may cross-react with brain proteins, potentially explaining these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Microbiology
- Psychiatry
Context:
- Streptococcus pyogenes (group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus) is a human pathogen causing various diseases, including tonsillitis and autoimmune conditions.
- Post-infectious autoimmune brain disorders, such as Sydenham's chorea, are linked to streptococcal infections.
- Recent research expands the spectrum of these disorders to include movement and emotional conditions like tics, dystonia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Purpose:
- To explore the potential role of Streptococcus pyogenes in a broader range of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
- To investigate the pathogenetic mechanism involving antibody-mediated neuronal dysfunction following streptococcal infection.
Summary:
- Streptococcus pyogenes infection can trigger an autoimmune response where antibodies cross-react with neuronal proteins.
- This cross-reactivity, particularly in susceptible individuals, may underlie movement disorders (tics, dystonia) and psychiatric conditions (OCD).
- This immunological mimicry offers a potential model for understanding idiopathic disorders like Tourette syndrome and OCD.
Impact:
- Highlights the significance of identifying streptococcal infections in patients with unexplained neurological and psychiatric symptoms.
- Suggests a potential therapeutic target by modulating the autoimmune response.
- Provides a novel perspective on the etiology of certain idiopathic neurological and psychiatric disorders.