Immune cells of the brain and spinal cord, called microglia, contribute to the cognitive deficits seen in some systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients by trimming neurons in the central nervous system, researchers at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research suggest.
Medications commonly used to treat high blood pressure – called ACE inhibitors – were able to to reduce the activity of these cells, protecting mice from neuronal damage. These inhibitors might help to protect SLE patients from such damage, the researchers believe.
Their study, “Lupus antibodies induce behavioral changes mediated by microglia and blocked by ACE inhibitors,” was published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
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