Keith Elkon, MD

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

2006 Central Nervous System

The cause of most cases of lupus affecting the brain is unknown, but there is good evidence to suggest that certain types of antibodies may play a role.

Dr. Elkon is testing the novel idea that a multi-step antibody process is involved in causing neuropsychiatric lupus, with a sequence of antibodies first damaging brain tissue and other antibodies then capturing antigens and crossing into brain cells, prompting the release of proteins called cytokines—and thereby altering brain function.

Select publications:

Potent induction of interferon-a and chemokines by autoantibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neuropsychiatric lupus. Santer DM, Yoshio T, Minota S, Möeller T, Elkon KB. J Immunol, 182(2):1192-201.

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