Bridging the gap: insights into sensorimotor deficits in NMDA receptor antibody encephalitis

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Abstract

N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor–mediated autoimmune encephalitis (NMDAR-AE) is the most common cause of autoimmune encephalitis, especially in children and young adults. The disorder is caused by antibodies directed against the GluN1 protein, an obligatory constituent of NMDA receptors, which are key signaling molecules in brain development, learning and memory, and executive function. The manuscript by Zhou et al. offers key insights into aberrant development of cortical pathways that may underly persistent sensorimotor deficits associated with this encephalitis in a newly generated mouse model. This study convincingly links transient exposure to a patient-derived anti-GluN1 mAb during a critical developmental period to lasting disruptions in interhemispheric connectivity through callosal projections. These findings provide insight into the impact of a prevalent autoimmune disorder on fundamental aspects of brain development and establish a model system that could be further employed to probe other aspects of NMDAR-AE pathogenesis.

Authors

Puneet Opal, Geoffrey T. Swanson