Autoimmune Factors in Neurological Disorders

Recent findings have revealed that autoantibodies have a pathogenic role in subgroups of patients in neuropsychiatric disorders, including data shown by the candidate’s group. Currently, improved diagnosis and treatment strategies are being analyzed for this new type of autoimmune disorders of the CNS. The candidate group’s work clearly shows, however, that known autoantibodies present in autoimmune encephalitis are not present in chronic patients with psychotic disorders. Currently, we are investigating other mental disorder groups.  Additionally, efforts are being made to understand the role of autoimmune antibodies against specific targets, e.g. at the neuromuscular junction or brain synapses. In this research line, new strategies for immunosuppression are being explored. At present, studies are to search for treatment response and biomarkers in the neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis (MG), and in autoimmune encephalitis. Moreover, the role of the thymus in autoimmunity is currently a focus from this research line for the next years since MUMC+ is a center of excellence for thymectomies, a standard intervention for treating MG patients. Finally, new animal models of autoimmunity are being developed.