Glycine receptor autoantibodies disrupt inhibitory neurotransmission.

ABSTRACT: Chloride-permeable glycine receptors have an important role in fast inhibitory neurotransmission in the spinal cord and brainstem. Human immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies to glycine receptors are found in a substantial proportion of patients with progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus, and less frequently in other variants of stiff person syndrome. Demonstrating a pathogenic role of glycine receptor autoantibodies would help justify the use of immunomodulatory therapies and provide insight into the mechanisms involved. Here, purified IgGs from four patients with progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus or stiff person syndrome, and glycine receptor autoantibodies, were observed to disrupt profoundly glycinergic neurotransmission. In whole-cell patch

SUBMITTER: Crisp SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6821286 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature