Anti-NMDA Receptor Antibodies in Adult Brain Dysfunction: Lessons from Lupus

Abstract - Overall This is a proposal to continue highly integrated studies of neuropsychiatric manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus such as cognitive impairment, anxiety, depression and fatigue in a patient cohort and a mouse model that phenocopies many aspects of the human disease. The goal of these projects are to identify mechanisms of disease and both therapeutic targets and therapeutic strategies. A major overall goal is to identify patient heterogeneity that can be studied at the cellular and molecular level in mice. The studies are supported by four Cores. The Administrative Core maintains regulatory compliance and assists in preparation of manuscripts and reports. A Monoclonal Antibody and Reagent Core ensures the integrity of reagents and assays used in both projects. An Animal Behavior and Electrophysiology Core performs standardized behavioral assessments of mice and EEGs on human subjects. A Clinical Core coordinates the generation of a single database for all patients and seeks to identify subsets of patients that have a neurocognitive and behavior features analogous to our mouse models.