Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Lupus

Background

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which neuropsychiatric involvement is common but poorly understood. According to the Lupus Research Alliance, “therapy for lupus is empiric and involves a variety of non-specific anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents. While these treatments are frequently beneficial, many patients do not respond adequately and suffer significant side effects.” In neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE), a CNS with a compromised blood-brain barrier is targeted by autoimmune antibodies, causing neurological and psychiatric/behavioral manifestations. A major gap in the understanding of NPSLE concerns how molecular autoimmune reactions give rise to the observed phenotypic alterations, and how such alterations can be targeted in therapeutic approaches.

Technology Overview

This SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University technology directly targets autoimmune antibodies that cause seizures and cognitive impairment. This offers the possibility of creating decoys that intercept and neutralize SLE anti-Brain-specific Cytoplasmic RNA antibodies (anti-BC abs) and mitigate phenotypic sequelae, which could lead to the development of therapeutic interventions. The BC200 decoy approach has shown excellent efficacy and specificity in initial animal in vivo experiments, thus indicating solid therapeutic potential. Ultimately, the subject technology will be developed into a kit that can allow clinicians to interfere with actions of autoimmune antibodies that target BC200 RNA.

Further Details:

https://www.jneurosci.org/content/39/39/7759

Stage of Development

Technology Readiness Level (TRL): 3 - Experimental proof of concept.

Benefits

This technology provides a novel approach to treating lupus symptoms by directly targeting autoimmune antibodies that cause seizures and cognitive impairment.

Applications

The primary application for this technology is treatment for lupus.

Opportunity

This technology is available for licensing and will be of value to any company or institution involved in treating lupus. This includes:

• Manufacturers of medical treatments
• Hospitals
• Research institutions
• Rehabilitation facilities