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Related Experiment Videos

Immunity and behavior: antibodies alter emotion.

Patricio T Huerta1, Czeslawa Kowal, Lorraine A DeGiorgio

  • 1Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|January 13, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Systemic lupus erythematosus antibodies can damage the brain. Epinephrine opens the blood-brain barrier, allowing these antibodies to harm the amygdala, causing emotional and behavioral changes.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Molecular neuroscience

Background:

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients often have antibodies (Abs) against double-stranded DNA.
  • Some lupus Abs cross-react with NR2A/NR2B subunits of the NMDA receptor, crucial for neuronal function.
  • The blood-brain barrier (BBB) normally protects the central nervous system (CNS) from such Abs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if epinephrine can facilitate antibody-mediated neurotoxicity.
  • To determine if epinephrine's effect on the BBB influences specific brain regions and behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Mice were immunized with a DNA peptide mimetope to produce lupus-like Abs.
  • The blood-brain barrier (BBB) was opened using epinephrine.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Neuronal damage and behavioral changes (fear conditioning) were assessed.

    • Main Results:

    • Epinephrine administration in immunized mice led to neuron loss in the lateral amygdala.
    • Mice exhibited impaired fear-conditioning responses, indicating emotional and behavioral deficits.
    • The agent used to open the BBB influenced the specific brain region affected by neurotoxic Abs.

    Conclusions:

    • Epinephrine can act as a permissive agent for antibody-mediated neurotoxicity.
    • Antibodies crossing the BBB can alter cognitive and emotional behaviors.
    • The BBB's integrity and specific opening agents determine vulnerability to neurotoxic insults.