@article{ref1,
title="Spinal cord injury triggers systemic autoimmunity: evidence for chronic B lymphocyte activation and lupus-like autoantibody synthesis",
journal="Journal of neurochemistry",
year="2006",
author="Ankeny, Daniel P. and Lucin, Kurt M. and Sanders, Virginia M. and McGaughy, Violeta M. and Popovich, Phillip G.",
volume="99",
number="4",
pages="1073-1087",
abstract="Clinical and experimental data indicate that spinal cord injury (SCI) elicits pathological T-cell responses. Implicit in these data, but poorly understood, is that B lymphocytes (B cells) also contribute to the delayed pathophysiology of spinal trauma. Here, for the first time, we show that experimental spinal contusion injury elicits chronic systemic and intraspinal B cell activation with the emergence of a B cell-dependent organ-specific and systemic autoimmune response. Specifically, using sera from spinal cord injured mice, immunoblots reveal oligoclonal IgG reactivity against multiple CNS proteins. We also show SCI-induced synthesis of autoantibodies that bind nuclear antigens including DNA and RNA. Elevated levels of anti-DNA antibodies are a distinguishing feature of systemic lupus erythematosus and, via their ability to cross-react with neuronal antigens, can cause neuropathology. We show a similar pathologic potential for the autoantibodies produced after SCI. Thus, mammalian SCI produces marked dysregulation of B cell function (i.e. autoimmunity) with pathological potential.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-3042",
doi="10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.04147.x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.04147.x"
}