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Altered neurological function in mice immunized with early endosome antigen 1
Sanja Selak1, Marvin J Fritzler
1Cajal Institute, Department of Neural Plasticity, Madrid, Spain. sselak@cajal.csic.es
BMC Neuroscience
|January 20, 2004
Summary
Autoantibodies targeting early endosome antigen 1 (EEA1) may cause neurological deficits. In mice, anti-EEA1 antibodies led to reduced forelimb strength and increased errors in motor tasks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Autoimmunity
- Neuropathology
Background:
- Autoantibodies against early endosome antigen 1 (EEA1) are associated with neurological diseases in humans.
- EEA1 is a 160 kDa endosome protein.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neuropathological effects of antibodies targeting EEA1.
- To determine if immunization with EEA1 induces neurological deficits in mice.
Main Methods:
- Mice from three major histocompatibility haplotype backgrounds (H2q, H2b, H2d) were immunized with a specific region of EEA1 (amino acids 82-1411).
- Neuro-behavioral tests including grid walking, forelimb strength, open field, reaching, and rotarod were performed on immunized and control mice.
Main Results:
- Immunized SWR/J mice with sustained anti-EEA1 antibodies showed significantly reduced forelimb strength compared to controls.
- BALB/CJ mice immunized with EEA1 exhibited significantly more forelimb errors on the grid walk test than controls.
Conclusions:
- Antibodies against recombinant EEA1 can mediate neurological deficits in mice.
- These deficits are consistent with clinical features observed in humans with spontaneous anti-EEA1 autoantibodies.