title: Human IgG directed against amphiphysin induces anxiety behavior in a rat model after intrathecal passive transfer.
abstract: Stiff person syndrome with auto-antibodies against amphiphysin is characterized by muscular stiffness, spasms, and anxiety which is a less appreciated core symptom. Here, we report that intrathecal application of purified immunoglobulin G-antibodies against amphiphysin from one patient induce anxiety behavior in rats. Immunostaining demonstrated binding of anti-amphiphysin antibodies to brain structures which are associated with anxiety disorders, such as the amygdala. We propose that antibody-mediated amphiphysin deficiency may account for anxiety behavior in stiff person syndrome via presynaptic dysregulation of GABAergic pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 11, Würzburg, Germany. Geis_C@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geis
authors.forename: Benedikt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grünewald
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weishaupt
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wultsch
authors.forename: Klaus V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Toyka
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reif
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sommer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D016750:Stiff-Person Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C075637:amphiphysin