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Journal ArticleDOI

The spectrum of neuromyelitis optica

TLDR
Data suggest that autoantibodies to aquaporin 4 derived from peripheral B cells cause the activation of complement, inflammatory demyelination, and necrosis that is seen in neuromyelitis optica.
Abstract
Summary Neuromyelitis optica (also known as Devic's disease) is an idiopathic, severe, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that preferentially affects the optic nerve and spinal cord. Neuromyelitis optica has a worldwide distribution, poor prognosis, and has long been thought of as a variant of multiple sclerosis; however, clinical, laboratory, immunological, and pathological characteristics that distinguish it from multiple sclerosis are now recognised. The presence of a highly specific serum autoantibody marker (NMO-IgG) further differentiates neuromyelitis optica from multiple sclerosis and has helped to define a neuromyelitis optica spectrum of disorders. NMO-IgG reacts with the water channel aquaporin 4. Data suggest that autoantibodies to aquaporin 4 derived from peripheral B cells cause the activation of complement, inflammatory demyelination, and necrosis that is seen in neuromyelitis optica. The knowledge gained from further assessment of the exact role of NMO-IgG in the pathogenesis of neuromyelitis optica will provide a foundation for rational therapeutic trials for this rapidly disabling disease.

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Development, maintenance and disruption of the blood-brain barrier

TL;DR: This Review highlights recently gained mechanistic insights into the development and maintenance of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and discusses how BBB disruption can cause or contribute to neurological disease.
Journal ArticleDOI

N-methyl-d-aspartate antibody encephalitis: temporal progression of clinical and paraclinical observations in a predominantly non-paraneoplastic disorder of both sexes

TL;DR: Overall, the data support a model in which the early features of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalopathy are associated with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis, and the later features with appearance of oligoclonal bands, which is associated with restriction to the first stage.
Journal ArticleDOI

Innate immunity in the central nervous system

TL;DR: The cellular and molecular basis of innate immunity in the CNS is reviewed and what is known about how outcomes of these interactions can lead to resolution of infection, neurodegeneration, or neural repair depending on the context is discussed.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI

The 1982 revised criteria for the classification of systemic lupus erythematosus

TL;DR: The 1971 preliminary criteria for the classification of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were revised and updated to incorporate new immunologic knowledge and improve disease classification and showed gains in sensitivity and specificity.
Journal ArticleDOI

Classification criteria for Sjögren's syndrome: a revised version of the European criteria proposed by the American-European Consensus Group

TL;DR: These classification criteria for Sjögren's syndrome have been re-examined by consensus group members, who have introduced some modifications, more clearly defined the rules for classifying patients with primary or secondary SS, and provided more precise exclusion criteria.
Journal ArticleDOI

Heterogeneity of multiple sclerosis lesions: implications for the pathogenesis of demyelination.

TL;DR: At a given time point of the disease, the patterns of demyelination were heterogeneous between patients, but were homogenous within multiple active lesions from the same patient, suggesting that MS may be a disease with heterogeneous pathogenetic mechanisms.
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