Skip to main content
Log in

Neuroprotective autoimmunity—a double-edged sword?

  • News & Views
  • Published:

From Nature Medicine

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Glutamate receptors are thought to play an essential role in the central nervous system damage that results from certain neurological insults. A recent report indicates that immunization against a glutamate receptor subunit may have neuroprotective effects, but we must consider the potential for pathogenic autoimmune responses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Figure 1: Neuroprotective autoimmunity.

References

  1. During, M.J. et al. An oral vaccine against NMDAR1 with efficacy in experimental stroke and epilepsy. Science 287, 1453–1460 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Steinman, L. Multiple approaches to multiple sclerosis. Nature Med 6, 15–16 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Dirnagl, U., Iadecola, C. & Moskowitz, M.A. Pathobiology of ischaemic stroke: an integrated view. Trends Neurosci. 22, 391–397 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Dunah, A.W. et al. Biochemical studies of the structure and function of the N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptors. Mol. Neurobiol. 19, 151–179 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Gegelashvili, G. & Schousboe, A. High affinity glutamate transporters: regulation of expression and activity. Mol. Pharmacol. 52, 6–15 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Faria, A.M. & Weiner, H.L. Oral tolerance: mechanisms and therapeutic applications. Adv. Immunol. 73, 153–264 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kaiserlian, D. & Etchart, N. Entry sites for oral vaccines and drugs: A role for M cells, enterocytes and dendritic cells? Semin. Immunol. 11, 217–224 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Medawar, P. Immunity to homologous grafted skin III. The fate of skin homografts transplanted to the brain, subcutaneous tissue and to the anterior chamber of the eye. Br. J. Exp. Path. 29, 58–69 (1948).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Albert, M.L. et al. Tumor-specific killer cells in paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. Nature Med. 4, 1321–1324 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Whitney, K.D. & McNamara, J.O. Autoimmunity and neurological disease: antibody modulation of synaptic transmission. Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 22, 175–195 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Brann, D.W. Glutamate: a major excitatory transmitter in neuroendocrine regulation. Neuroendocrinology 61, 213–225 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wood, M., Vincent, A. Neuroprotective autoimmunity—a double-edged sword?. Nat Med 6, 383–385 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/74641

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/74641

  • Springer Nature America, Inc.

Navigation