The therapeutic potential of targeting anti-Ribosomal-P antibody in treating SLE patients with depression

Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) involves the central and peripheral nervous system. The pathogenesis of NPSLE is poorly understood. The condition is recognised as one of the major causes of mortality in SLE patients. The main autoantibody population associated with NPSLE is directed to ribosomal-phosphoproteins (anti-Ribos.P), which can bind the limbic area of mouse brain and penetrate into neuronal cells in vitro. Intracerebroventricular injection of these antibodies, induce experimental depression-like models in naive mice. Based on these observations, targeting anti-Ribos.P antibodies may be a new therapeutic approach to treat NPSLE patients with depression.