Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

A new study investigates immune mechanisms that underlie a brain disease called NMDAR-antibody encephalitis, an autoimmune disease in which antibodies are produced, and subsequently disrupt brain NMDA receptors, crucial in maintaining normal brain function.

The first signs of this disease (NMDAR-antibody encephalitis) often show up as disturbances in mental state before progressing to seizures, movement disorder, and coma.

The new study, Cervical lymph nodes and ovarian teratomas as germinal centres in NMDA receptor - antibody encephalitis, is published in Brain. It pioneers the direct sampling of neck lymph nodes to study immune reactions and response. More broadly, this safe and reliable technique, which was carried out as part of a collaboration with the John Radcliffe Radiology Department, could be used to study interactions between the brain and the immune system.

The study also consolidates the role of ovarian teratoma in breaking immune tolerance and the urgency needed to identify and treat any ovarian teratomas, which are present in about a third of patients with NMDAR-antibody encephalitis, despite it being a rare tumour.

Dr Adam Al-Diwani, NIHR Clinical Lecturer, study lead, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, said:

 

'We investigated how autoimmunity comes about by studying patient samples of blood, teratoma samples and direct sampling of neck lymph nodes. We found that a process usually important in fighting infection - germinal centre reaction, in which B cells become educated to make a specific immune response - is happening within the tumour. We found that this is also happening in neck lymph nodes, particularly in patients whose illness was harder to treat, but not in those who had responded to treatment, including tumour treatment.

 

'The impact for clinical practice is an emphasis on treating the cellular basis of this disease in addition to targeting antibodies alone. Studying neck lymph nodes may shed light on more common neuropsychiatric conditions including dementia and brain injury.'

This research was supported by the NIHR Oxford Health and Oxford Biomedical Research Centres, as well as Wellcome, the Medical Research Council, and the British Medical Association Foundation.

Watch more about the research - Cervical lymph nodes & ovarian teratomas as germinal centres in NMDA receptor-antibody encephalitis.

Similar stories

Viewing self-harm images on the internet and in social media usually causes harm, according to new review

Clinical researchers have reviewed the international research evidence regarding the impact of viewing images of self-harm on the internet and in social media.

Can humans hibernate?

Illuminating new TEDx Talk from Professor of Sleep Physiology Vladyslav Vyazovskiy

European Platform for Neurodegenerative Diseases launches repository of cohorts for researchers

The new Cohort Catalogue will facilitate discovery of over 60 neurodegeneration research cohorts from 17 countries across Europe

New insights into chemogenetic designer drugs to enhance our study of behaviour

A collaborative team of researchers in DPAG and Pharmacology led by Dr Lukas Krone have uncovered striking new data demonstrating that two widely used designer drugs used to turn populations of neurons on and off in the brain cause unexpected effects on sleep. These results demonstrate a critical need to improve chemogenetic approaches in behavioural studies.

Researchers win UK Dementia Research Institute Grand Challenge Award to identify early signs of Alzheimer's

The MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit has received funding for a multi-year research partnership designed to advance the understanding of early changes to the operations of brain circuits in Alzheimer's disease.

Ensuring LGBTQI+ people are treated fairly in mental health data

Andrey Kormilitzin outlines a new participatory study aimed at improving AI to take account of LGBTQI+ people so that their needs are better met by mental health services.