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Review
. 2013 Sep 20:4:181.
doi: 10.3389/fgene.2013.00181.

Autoantibodies to neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels: from neuromuscular to neuropsychiatric disorders

Pilar Martinez-Martinez  1 , Peter C Molenaar, Mario Losen, Jo Stevens, Marc H De Baets, Andrei Szoke, Jerome Honnorat, Ryad Tamouza, Marion Leboyer, Jim Van Os, Bart P F Rutten
Affiliations
Review

Autoantibodies to neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels: from neuromuscular to neuropsychiatric disorders

Pilar Martinez-Martinez et al. Front Genet. .

Abstract

Changes of voltage-gated ion channels and ligand-gated receptor channels caused by mutation or autoimmune attack are the cause of so-called channelopathies in the central and peripheral nervous system. We present the pathophysiology of channelopathies of the neuromuscular junction in terms of loss-of-function and gain-of-function principles. Autoantibodies generally have reduced access to the central nervous system, but in some cases this is enough to cause disease. A review is provided of recent findings implicating autoantibodies against ligand-activated receptor channels and potassium channels in psychiatric and neurological disorders, including schizophrenia and limbic encephalitis. The emergence of channelopathy-related neuropsychiatric disorders has implications for research and practice.

Keywords: AMPA receptor; Caspr2; GABA receptor; Lgi1; NMDA receptor; acetylcholine receptor; glycine receptor; potassium channel.

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