Posts by:
Gabriella True

Anti-lysoganglioside and other anti-neuronal autoantibodies in post-treatment Lyme Disease and Erythema Migrans after repeat infection

Anti-lysoganglioside and other anti-neuronal autoantibodies in post-treatment Lyme Disease and Erythema Migrans after repeat infection

Brian A.Fallon, BarbaraStrobino, SeanReim, JulieStoner, Madeleine W.Cunningham Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health, Volume 2, February 2020, 100015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2019.100015

This study examines molecular mimicry targeting neural tissue after Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) infection. Patients with Lyme disease have a greater frequency of specific anti-neuronal autoantibodies and functional neuronal activation compared to community controls without a history of Lyme disease.

“Highlights

  • The EM ​+ ​prior LD group had significantly elevated anti-neuronal antibodies.
  • The EM ​+ ​prior LD group had significantly elevated CaM Kinase activation.
  • Anti-Lysoganglioside Antibodies are significantly elevated in the PTLS group.
  • Prior infection may lead to immune priming and increased autoantibodies.”
A systematic review and meta-analysis: Memantine augmentation in moderate to severe obsessive-compulsive disorder
Modarresi A, Chaibakhsh S, Koulaeinejad N, Koupaei SR. A systematic review and meta-analysis: Memantine augmentation in moderate to severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychiatry Res. 2019 Dec;282:112602. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112602. Epub 2019 Oct 4. PMID: 31630042.
  • Objective: Evaluate the efficacy of memantine as a glutamate modulator for moderate to severe OCD.
  • Methods: Systematic review of single, double-blinded, and open-label trials, using Y-BOCS scores as the primary measure.
  • Results:
    • 8 studies, 125 participants receiving memantine augmentation.
    • Significant reduction of 11.73 points in Y-BOCS scores.
    • Patients on memantine were 3.61 times more likely to respond than those on placebo.
    • 20 mg/day memantine for at least 8 weeks is safe and effective.
  • Conclusions: Memantine augmentation is a promising treatment option for moderate to severe OCD.
Brain-Immune Alterations and Mitochondrial Dysfunctions in a Mouse Model of Paediatric Autoimmune Disorder Associated with Streptococcus: Exacerbation by Chronic Psychosocial Stress

Ajmone-Cat MA, Spinello C, Valenti D, Franchi F, Macrì S, Vacca RA, Laviola G. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2019; 8(10):1514. DOI: 10.3390/jcm8101514

  • Adverse psychosocial experiences have been shown to modulate individual responses to immune challenges and affect mitochondrial functions.
  • Results show chronic psychosocial stress altered the expression of neuroinflammatory markers in the hippocampal and hypothalamic regions, exacerbated the neuroinflammatory alterations induced by experimental GAS exposures in the same areas.
  • Psychosocial stress exacerbated individual response to GAS administrations whereby mice exposed to both treatments exhibited altered cytokine and immune-related enzyme expression in the hippocampus and hypothalamus.
  • Showed impaired mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes IV and V, and reduced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production by mitochondria and ATP content.
  • These brain abnormalities, observed in GAS-Stress mice, were associated with blunted titers of plasma corticosterone.
  • Present data support the hypothesis that challenging environmental conditions, in terms of chronic psychosocial stress, may exacerbate the long-term consequences of exposure to GAS processes through the promotion of central immunomodulatory and oxidative stress.