Afferent facilitation of corticomotor responses is increased by IgGs of patients with NMDA-receptor antibodies

A severe subacute encephalitis associated with auto-antibodies to the NMDA receptor (NMDA-R) has been reported in humans. These antibodies are directed to NR1/NR2 heteromers of the NMDA receptor. We studied the effects of patients’ cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) injected in rFr2 (the prefrontal area) on the afferent facilitation in a conditioning paradigm for corticomotor responses. The afferent facilitation was assessed in forelimbs and hindlimbs of rats, before and after application of trains of high-frequency stimulation (HFS) which are known to modulate the excitability of M1. Before HFS, patients’ CSF did not modify afferent facilitation. After HFS, the amplitudes of corticomotor responses before conditioning were significantly larger in forelimbs and hindlimbs. There was an increase of the afferent facilitation in forelimbs. The same effect was observed after injection of purified IgGs from patients’ sera. Our results highlight that IgGs of patients with NMDA-R antibodies induce a state of corticomotor hyperexcitability following application of HFS over the prefrontal area.