Keywords Neuropathies - Neuritis
INTRODUCTION
Immune-mediated neuropathies represent a highly-heterogeneous group of neurological
disorders in which an abnormal immune response targeting self-antigens within the
peripheral nervous system (PNS) results in damage and, ultimately, nerve dysfunction.
The 8-week progression period marks the boundary between the acute and chronic classification
of these disorders.[1 ]
From a practical standpoint, the acute presentations encompass Guillain-Barré syndrome
(GBS) and its variants, while the chronic presentations include multifocal motor neuropathy
(MMN), and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) and its
variants. However, more recently, nodo-paranodopathies have also been included among
immune-mediated neuropathies, with both acute and chronic forms exhibiting a behavior
distinct from those of the classic etiologies previously mentioned.[2 ] Although their clinical phenotype ultimately resembles that of GBS and CIDP, specific
characteristics are consistently observed, including non-responsiveness to first-line
immunotherapies that are routinely effective in GBS and CIDP.
The recognition of the molecular structures ([Figure 1 ]), namely the node of Ranvier and the axonal regions surrounding it (the paranode
and juxtaparanode), as the primary target for specific autoantibodies has introduced
a new site for neurological location (microtopographic structures), in contrast to
the prevailing understanding, in which lesions to macrostructures (roots, nerves,
and/or plexus) were the focus of semiologists and electrophysiologists. Therefore,
there was a need to understand and characterize the components of these neural microstructures
that are grouped in small regions within the nerve.[3 ]
[4 ]
[5 ]
Figure 1 Nodal, paranodal, and juxtaparanodal regions with their main antigens, the presence
of sodium channels in the nodal region, and of potassium channels in the juxtaparanodal
regions. Predominance of immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) to IG3 and IgM antibodies in the
nodal region, and of IgG4 and 3 antibodies in the paranodal and juxtaparanodal regions.
Studies with animal models have facilitated the reproduction and have enhanced the
characterization of the electrophysiological patterns observed in immune-mediated
nodo-paranodopathies, while also enabling their correlation with the pathological
findings observed in nerves through electron microscopy.
It is probable that the very first intriguing and, at some point, unexpected finding
was that alterations initially classified as demyelinating based on electrophysiological
patterns were instead caused by restricted uncoupling of nodo-paranodal regions and
the absence of macrophages.[5 ]
[6 ]
[7 ] To unveil their mysteries, we will delve into them with meticulous scrutiny.
MICROANATOMY OF NODE, PARANODE, AND JUXTAPARANODE REGIONS
MICROANATOMY OF NODE, PARANODE, AND JUXTAPARANODE REGIONS
The nodes of Ranvier are positioned along myelinated axons, in which interruptions
in the myelin sheath expose the axolemma, which is covered only by the microvilli
of Schwann cells. This region presents the highest density of voltage-gated sodium
channels (VGSCs), mainly Nav1.6 and Nav1.1, providing a site for the generation and
rapid propagation of action potentials.[8 ] Adjacent to the node of Ranvier lies the paranode, in which the myelin loops adheres
to the axon, and the juxtaparanode, covered by compact myelin, in which most of voltage-gated
potassium channel (VGKCs) are concentrated ([Figure 1 ]).
The nodal region is composed of the extracellular matrix, proteins such as neurofascin
186 (NF-186), neurofascin 140 (NF-140), gliomedin and GM1, and GD1b and GQ1b gangliosides.[9 ]
The paranode segment works as an electrical and biochemical barrier that restricts
the mobility of ions and membrane proteins between the node and the juxtaparanode
region. The paranode junction is composed of the proteins contactin 1 (CTCN1), contactin-associated
protein 1 (CASPR-1) and neurofascin 155 (NF-155). The NF155 protein anchors at paranode
loops of glia cells, while CTCN1 and CASPR-1 anchor at the axolemma. This glial-neural
junction formed by this protein complex restricts mobility and stabilizes the nodal
region.[6 ]
Finally, in the juxtaparanode region, the areas adjacent to the paranodes beneath
the myelin sheath have a high density of VGKCs associated with the presence of complex
contactin-associated protein 2 (CASPR-2), which stabilize the potassium channels,[10 ] as well as of transiently-expressed glycoprotein-1, which is responsible for stabilizing
the glial-neural framework in this location, in addition to the presence of GM1, GD1b
and GQ1b gangliosides.[9 ]
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Autoantibodies targeting gangliosides (sphingolipids containing one or more sialic
acid units),[11 ] or glycolipid proteins (primarily NF), play a crucial role in the pathophysiology
of autoimmune neuropathies affecting nodes and paranodes.[12 ] This understanding reconciles clinical and electrophysiological concepts, as observed
in the classic classification of neuropathies, with damage to macrostructures.[11 ]
[12 ]
It is imperative to underscore that the designation CIDP for chronic neuropathies linked to immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) antibodies targeting
paranode epitopes (NF-155, CASPR-1, and CTCN1) is not conceptually correct and should
not be used, mainly because chronic autoimmune nodo-paranodopathies are not primarily
demyelinating neuropathies; rather, the target site of the underlying pathophysiological
process includes specific portions of the nerve, enabling microstructural recognition.[5 ] The paranode axoglial junctions formed by the association of the proteins CNTCN-1,
CASPR-1, and NF-155 play crucial roles in maintaining the paranode cytoarchitecture
and in facilitating the neurophysiological propagation of nerve impulses along myelinated
axons.[13 ] The autoantibodies against the antigens CNTCN-1, CASPR-1, and NF-155 belong to the
IgG4 subclass. Immunoglobulin G4 accounts for approximately 5% of immunoglobulins,
and it differs from other subclasses in several structural and functional aspects,[14 ] including its inability to activate the complement cascade and consequently the
membrane attack complex, because it cannot bind to the first component of the complement
cascade: C1q.[12 ]
[15 ]
Neurofascin-155
The NF-155 protein belongs to the L1 family of transmembrane cell adhesion molecules,
typically presenting a well-conserved evolutionary structure of the protein domain,
with 6 immunoglobulin domains and 5 fibronectin type-III domains, along with a transmembrane
domain and a cytoplasmic domain comprising 113 amino acids.[16 ]
[17 ] The NF-155 protein is expressed in the paranodes, and its main function is the stabilization
of the paranode cytoarchitecture.[18 ] Other isoforms of neurofascins (NF-166, NF-180, and NF-186) are equally involved
in the dynamic mechanisms of synaptic stabilization, neural growth, and clustering
of sodium channels.16 Serological studies have shown that between 4 and 10% of the patients who were initially
classified as having a chronic demyelinating neuropathy present positive serum autoantibody
against this axoglial antigen.[19 ]
[20 ]
The patients present with a characteristic clinical course, with symptom onset at
a younger age (on average around 30 years), cerebellar tremor, dysarthria, and nystagmus,
extremely high levels of protein in the cerebrospinal fluid, hypertrophy of the cervical
and lumbar spinal roots, plexus, and peripheral nerves, and the possibility of demyelination
of the central nervous system (CNS).[14 ]
[21 ]
[22 ] Electrophysiological abnormalities in visual evoked potentials occur in 70% of the
patients during the course of the disease.[18 ]
Nerve biopsy from these patients does not demonstrate the typical features of macrophage-mediated
demyelination and onion-bulb remyelination, as observed in patients with classic CIDP.12 Instead, it shows nodal widening and detached myelin loops due to node-paranode uncoupling
and axonal degeneration.[22 ]
Another distinctive feature in NF-155-seropositive patients is the presence of CNS
lesions detected on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans that resemble demyelination,[19 ]
[23 ]
[24 ] including clinical forms that meet the criteria for multiple sclerosis in up to
67.5% of the patients,[18 ]
[25 ] despite these questionable findings.[26 ] Regarding prognosis, NF-155-seropositive patients with involvement of both the CNS
and PNS[27 ] have shown greater clinical disability and poor prognosis compared to those with
exclusive PNS involvement.[19 ] Patients initially diagnosed with CIDP who present cerebellar tremor, associated
CNS lesion on MRI suggestive of demyelination, and refractoriness to first-line immunotherapies
should be tested for NF-155, as positivity could assist in a better therapeutic management
due to the severe clinical evolution of this disease.
Contactin-1
Autoantibodies against the CTCN1 antigen have been reported in 2.25 to 8.7% of the
patients with immune-mediated chronic neuropathies.[3 ]
[15 ]
The phenotype associated with CTCN1 is characterized by late onset (around 60 years
of age), predominant motor neuropathy, untimely sensory ataxia, and axonal degeneration,
along with a poor response to intravenous Ig (IVIg) treatment.[26 ] Miura et al.[28 ] described the clinical and serological characteristics of 13 Japanese patients initially
diagnosed with CIDP that tested positive for CTCN1 antibodies (13 out of 533: 2.4%).
Among these patients, 3 (23%) had an acute presentation, 1 (8%) developed cerebellar
ataxia during the disease, 2 (15%) exhibited cerebellar tremor, and all (100%) had
sensory ataxia upon examination. Regarding therapeutic response, 6 out of 10 patients
treated with IVIg had poor response.[29 ] Therefore, elderly patients who meet the clinical and electrophysiological criteria
for chronic demyelinating neuropathy and exhibit marked sensory ataxia, cerebellar
tremor, and refractoriness to immunotherapy should be tested for CTCN1.
Neurofascin-140 and neurofascin-186
Antibodies against 2 different isoforms of NF (NF-140/NF-186), have been described
in up to 2% of the patients initially diagnosed with acute-onset CIDP or GBS.[29 ] Most patients experience severe disease, characterized by pronounced sensory ataxia,
and demonstrate only a partial response to IVIg. Additionally, many of these individuals
have concomitant autoimmune conditions.[5 ] The therapeutic response in some NF1-40-/NF-186-positive patients suggests that
complement pathway activation is not the sole mechanism of action of human Ig in these
patients.[27 ]
CASPR-1
The neuropathy in patients who tested positive for CASPR-1 typically begins around
the age of 30 years, similar to patients with NF-155. It is a rapidly-progressive
disease with proximal and distal weakness, lancinating neuropathic pain, and no response
to IVIg.[26 ] The CASPR-1 antigen is an axonal-cell adhesion protein associated with contactin
in the paranode region, which, together with CNTCN-1, binds to NF-155. These three
proteins form the anchoring complex in the paranode region. As CASPR-1 is essential
for the homeostasis and stabilization of sodium channels in the nodal region and potassium
channels in the juxtaparanodal region, its function is to facilitate high-speed nerve
conduction and myelin homeostasis in the CNS and PNS.[30 ] Conversely, anti-CASPR-1 autoantibodies bound in the paranodal region at the dorsal
root ganglia trigger severe pain symptoms in these patients.[31 ]
Nerve biopsy from patients with positive CASPR-1 antibodies reveals severe axonal
degeneration and no onion bulb, indicating a different characteristic from the demyelination
commonly found in the classic forms of CIDP. The myelin sheath is primarily less affected
compared to the node and paranode regions, which undergo a decoupling of cytoarchitecture.
Chronic immune-mediated neuropathies presenting with refractory neuropathic pain and
lack of response to first-line immunotherapies should be tested for CASPR-1, as positivity
could assist in better therapeutic choices due to the pronounced degree of axonal
loss and morbidity from neuropathic pain in the course of this disease.[31 ]
[32 ]
The availability of plasma autoantibodies[33 ] for the assessment of patients with an initial diagnosis of CIDP refractory[34 ] to first-line treatments or for those presenting signs and symptoms of CNS involvement
remains limited in the clinical practice in Brazil. Establishing a diagnosis continues
to be one of the major challenges in the therapeutic decision-making for patients
with an initial CIDP diagnosis,[35 ]
[36 ] as well as for those with atypical CNS demyelinating diseases,[37 ] potentially increasing the therapeutic costs and morbidity due to diagnostic delays
([Table 1 ]).[9 ] Another issue is that current treatment algorithms do not adequately address the
underlying pathogenic heterogeneity of chronic immune-mediated neuropathies.
Table 1
Subtypes of nodo-paranodopathies, including clinical phenotypes, antibody subtypes,
and therapeutic response
Region/antigen
IgG class and subclass
Clinical course
Initial diagnosis
CNS involvement
Response to first line therapy
CSF protein
Other
Node
NF-186/NF-140
IgG3, IgG4.
Acute/subacute onset, motor and sensory, with severe course.
GBS or acute CIDP subacute.
No.
Some patients respond to IVIg.
Possible cytological albumin dissociation.
Nephrotic syndrome may be associated.
Paranode
NF-155
Mainly IgG4.
Acute/subacute onset, mostly in young adults. Predominant distal weakness, ataxia
and tremor.
Early-onset CIDP.
Yes.
Poor response to IVIg, response to rituximab.
> 150 mg/dL.
Appendicular, cephalic, vocal or tongue tremor may be associated.
Root, plexus and/or nerve hypertrophy on MRI or US and MS-like on CNS MRI.
Paranode
CTCN1
Mainly IgG4.
Acute/subacute onset, rapidly-progressive and severe. Predominant distal weakness,
ataxia, and tremor.
Late-onset CIDP with pronounced sensory ataxia.
Yes.
Poor response to IVIg, response to rituximab.
Normal or hypoproteinorrhaquia in association with nephrotic syndrome.
Nephrotic syndrome and cerebellar tremor may be associated.
Paranode
CASPR1
IgG3, IgG4.
Acute onset, rapidly-progressive weakness with ataxia, tremor, cranial nerve involvement,
and neuropathic pain.
Early-onset CIDP.
No.
Poor response to IVIg, response to rituximab.
Normal.
Refractory pain.
Node/Paranode
GM1
IgM.
Chronic, prevalently upper-limb chronic, asymmetrical, motor neuropathy.
ALS or CIDP of the motor subtype.
No.
Responsive to IVIg.
Normal.
No.
Node/Paranode
GD1b, GQ1b
IgM.
Chronic sensory ataxia often with a relapsing–remitting pattern. It may be accompanied
by oculomotor and bulbar weakness. Weakness may coexist.
(CANDA/CANOMAD)
CIDP.
No.
Responsive to IVIg and rituximab.
Normal.
No.
Pan-neurofascinopathies
IgG1/IgG3/IgG4.
Acute/subacute onset, severe monophasic course, autonomic dysfunction, nephrotic syndrome,
and respiratory involvement.
“GBS explosive”.
No.
Poor response to IVIg, response to plasmapheresis and rituximab.
Possible cytological albumin dissociation.
Nephrotic syndrome and retroperitoneal fibrosis may be associated.
Abbreviations: ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; CANDA/CANOMAD, chronic sensory
ataxic neuropathy with anti-disialosyl antibodies/chronic ataxic neuropathy ophthalmoplegia
M-protein agglutination disialosyl antibodies syndrome; CASPR1, contactin-associated
protein 1; CIDP, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy; CNS, central
nervous system; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; CTCN1, contactin 1; GBS, Guillain-Barré
syndrome; Ig, immunoglobulin; NF, neurofascin.
Algorithmically, regarding chronic paranodopathies,[9 ] we suggest, according to [Table 1 ], that: young patients initially diagnosed with CIDP, but with a subacute onset without
proximal weakness and early axonal loss, should be tested for NF-155; if they present
excruciating pain, they should be tested for CASPR 1; and elderly patients with severe
sensory ataxia without proximal weakness and early axonal loss should be tested for
CTCN1 ([Table 1 ]). Regarding acute phenotypes, patients with GBS-like and CIDP-A phenotypes refractory
to immunotherapy, early axonal loss, absence of dysautonomia, and predominantly-distal
weakness should be tested for NF-186 and NF-140 according to the guideline of the
European Academy of Neurology/Peripheral Nerve Society joint Task Force Force–second
revision.[1 ]
Bibliographical Record
