Neuropsychiatric Lupus Research Receives a Boost

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Neuropsychiatric Lupus Research Receives a Boost

NIH News ReleaseNATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTHNational Institute of Arthritis andMusculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMonday, December 23, 2002Contacts: FreedmanOffice of Communicationsand Public LiaisonNeuropsychiatric Lupus Research Receives a BoostFive new research grants on the neuropsychiatric aspects of lupushave been funded by the National Institute of Arthritis andMusculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) at the National Institutesof Health (NIH), a part of the Department of Health and HumanServices (DHHS). The grants, totaling more than $1.2 million for FY2002, include both basic and clinical research studies. Co-fundingwas provided by the Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)."These research grants will increase our understanding of thedisease's nervous system complications. Neuropsychiatric symptoms canbe particularly distressing for people with lupus and theirfamilies," said I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NIAMS.Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease thatmainly affects women of childbearing age. Common symptoms of SLE mayinclude painful or swollen joints, unexplained fever, skin rashes,kidney problems, and extreme fatigue. In addition, there are a widevariety of associated neurological and psychiatric syndromes, whichhave been placed under the heading of Neuropsychiatric-SLE (NP-SLE).Examples include stroke, depression, inflamed cerebral blood vessels,seizures, headaches, and cognitive dysfunction (disordered thinking).NP-SLE affects more than 20 percent of lupus patients and is one ofthe major causes of death among people with lupus. The followingprojects will apply new tools and approaches to the discovery of theunderlying causes of NP-SLE. Ultimately, this may lead to improveddiagnosis and treatment for patients with NP-SLE.The new studies include:Brain Connections, Petri, M.D., s Hopkins University,Baltimore, Md. Investigators in this multicenter study will measurecognitive dysfunction and biological changes and will perform brainimaging in newly diagnosed neuropsychiatric lupus patients. This workcould lead to the discovery of early disease mechanisms that may beresponsive to treatment. Brain Cell Death in MRL Mice: Targets andMechanisms, Boris Sakic, Ph.D., McMaster University, Hamilton,Ontario, Canada. The mechanisms responsible for cell death in thebrains of autoimmune mice with lupus-like neuropsychiatric symptomswill be investigated. Central nervous system malfunctioning and itseffects on behavior will be assessed. New research approaches tounderstanding the progression of central nervous system damage arelikely to be uncovered.Cognitive Dysfunction in Neuropsychiatric SLE, Lockshin,M.D., Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, N.Y. This research willcombine clinical, biological and imaging approaches to identifysubgroups of SLE patients. SLE patients will be followed to determinethe relationship between imaging abnormalities, a specific receptorantibody, lupus symptoms and heart disease. By studying thebiological mechanisms underlying lupus brain injury, this researchwill assist in redefining the progression of cognitive dysfunction inSLE patients and will suggest new targets for treatment.Antibodies to NR2 in SLE, Betty Diamond, M.D., Albert EinsteinCollege of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y. In this project, the mechanism ofbrain dysfunction in SLE will be examined. Antibodies that bind tothe DNA of people with lupus can also bind to the NR2 receptor onneurons and cause cell death. Mouse models of SLE will be studiedusing brain imaging and other measurements to test antibody bindingto the NR2 receptor as a possible pathway to the neurologicalsymptoms some people with lupus experience. This project will help tobuild a scientific foundation for the development of therapies toprevent central nervous system damage in lupus.Identifying Genes for Neuropsychiatric Lupus, Mishra Nilamadhab,M.D., Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, N.C.This study seeks to discover the genes responsible for theneurological symptoms of lupus by examining mouse models. Uncoveringthe genetic basis for neuropsychiatric lupus is a necessary precursorto the development of targeted therapies.The award of these grants is the result of a special solicitation forresearch applications, AR-01-007, entitled "Neuropsychiatric SystemicLupus Erythematosus"(http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AR-01-007.html).This RFA was based in part on the scientific opportunities identifiedin the workshop "Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Systemic LupusErythematosus" held at NIH in May 1999. A summary of the workshop canbe found athttp://www.niams.nih.gov/ne/reports/sci_wrk/1999/reportnmsle.htm.For more information on lupus, contact:American College of Rheumatology1800 Century Place, Suite 250Atlanta, GA 30345Phone: Fax: www.rheumatology.orgArthritis Foundation1330 West Peachtree StreetAtlanta, GA 30309Phone: or (free of charge)or your local chapter listed in the telephone bookwww.arthritis.orgLupus Foundation of America1300 Piccard Drive, Suite 200Rockville, MD 20850Phone: or (free of charge)or your local chapter listed in the telephone bookwww.lupus.orgSLE Foundation149 Madison Avenue, Suite 205New York, NY 10016Phone: or 800-74-LUPUS (745-8787) (free of charge)www.lupusny.orgThe mission of the National Institute of Arthritis andMusculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a part of the Departmentof Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health, is tosupport research into the causes, treatment, and prevention ofarthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases, the training ofbasic and clinical scientists to carry out this research, and thedissemination of information on research progress in these diseases.For more information about NIAMS, call the information clearinghouseat or (877) 22-NIAMS (free call) or visit the NIAMSWeb site at http://www.niams.nih.gov.The Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) was established inSeptember 1990 within the Office of the Director, NIH. ORWH works inpartnership with the NIH institutes and centers to ensure thatwomen's health research is part of the scientific framework at NIHand throughout the scientific community. For more information aboutORWH, call or visit the ORWH Web site athttp://www4.od.nih.gov/orwh/.

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