High prevalence and functional effects of serum antineuronal antibodies in patients with gastrointestinal disorders

Abstract

Background: Antineuronal antibodies can be associated with both gastrointestinal (GI)

Enteric Murine Ganglionitis Induced by Autoimmune CD8 T Cells Mimics Human Gastrointestinal Dysmotility

“…7e10 In addition, antineuronal antibodies are present in the serum of patients with various GI disorders. 11 These observations support the theory that neuronal antigens can become targets of an immune response. Indeed, in a rat model of chronic functional bowel changes after Campylobacter jejuni infection, a circulating antibody that recognizes the neuronal protein vinculin has been detected.…”

Altered gastrointestinal motility involving autoantibodies in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model of multiple sclerosis

“…11 A recent investigation demonstrated that many patients with autoimmune or idiopathic GI dysfunction present with increased serum antibody levels that exhibit immunoreactivity against both CNS and ENS neurons and glia and stimulated enteric secretion, with no effect on motility, when applied ex vivo. 37 In one study of GI antibodies in MS patients, 28% of patients were found to have at least 1 antibody against mucosal antigens, suggesting the possibility of further enteric targets of the disease. 23 Together with our findings, these data suggest that MS could represent an additional autoimmune disease in which autoantibodies contribute to constipation.…”

Autoimmune encephalitis and gastrointestinal dysmotility: achalasia, gastroparesis, and slow transit constipation

“…The antibody-triggered autoimmune inflammation may disturb all levels of the gut-brain axis including brain, spinal cord, peripheral, and, particularly, the enteric nervous system. This has been shown by immunohistochemical staining of neurons and glia cells within the enteric nervous system of the gut [2,[10][11][12]. Furthermore, a direct excitatory action of ANNA-1, in particular anti-HuD IgGs on human and guinea pig enteric neurons as well as on mouse visceral afferents, which involves nicotinic and P2X receptors, could be demonstrated recently [10].…”