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      Cellular and synaptic mechanisms of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

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          Abstract

          We recently described a severe, potentially lethal, but treatment-responsive encephalitis that associates with autoantibodies to the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) and results in behavioral symptoms similar to those obtained with models of genetic or pharmacologic attenuation of NMDAR function. Here, we demonstrate that patients' NMDAR antibodies cause a selective and reversible decrease in NMDAR surface density and synaptic localization that correlates with patients' antibody titers. The mechanism of this decrease is selective antibody-mediated capping and internalization of surface NMDARs, as Fab fragments prepared from patients' antibodies did not decrease surface receptor density, but subsequent cross-linking with anti-Fab antibodies recapitulated the decrease caused by intact patient NMDAR antibodies. Moreover, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of miniature EPSCs in cultured rat hippocampal neurons showed that patients' antibodies specifically decreased synaptic NMDAR-mediated currents, without affecting AMPA receptor-mediated currents. In contrast to these profound effects on NMDARs, patients' antibodies did not alter the localization or expression of other glutamate receptors or synaptic proteins, number of synapses, dendritic spines, dendritic complexity, or cell survival. In addition, NMDAR density was dramatically reduced in the hippocampus of female Lewis rats infused with patients' antibodies, similar to the decrease observed in the hippocampus of autopsied patients. These studies establish the cellular mechanisms through which antibodies of patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis cause a specific, titer-dependent, and reversible loss of NMDARs. The loss of this subtype of glutamate receptors eliminates NMDAR-mediated synaptic function, resulting in the learning, memory, and other behavioral deficits observed in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          J Neurosci
          The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
          Society for Neuroscience
          1529-2401
          0270-6474
          Apr 28 2010
          : 30
          : 17
          Affiliations
          [1 ] Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
          Article
          30/17/5866 NIHMS200103
          10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0167-10.2010
          2868315
          20427647
          4a2e303b-1c86-4f21-8e9e-ce703e8c0fcf
          History

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