Seizures and memory impairment induced by patient-derived anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibodies in mice are attenuated by anakinra, an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist.OBJECTIVE
 To determine whether interleukin (IL)-1-mediated inflammation exacerbates autoimmune seizures, we asked whether blocking the effects of IL-1 by anakinra, a selective IL-1 receptor antagonist, blunts antibody-induced seizures.


 After a 6-day interval, mice received anakinra (25 mg/kg sc, twice daily) or vehicle for 5 days.  Anakinra administration attenuated daily seizure frequency by 60% (p = .02).  Anakinra reduced seizure duration; however, the effect was delayed and became apparent only after the cessation of treatment (p = .04).  Anakinra improved novel object recognition in mice with antibody-induced seizures (p = .03) but did not alter other behaviors.  Anakinra reduced the expression of GFAP and Iba-1 in the hippocampus of mice with seizures, indicating decreased astrocytic and microglial activation.


 These data are consistent with therapeutic effects of anakinra in other severe autoimmune and inflammatory seizure syndromes. 
anakinra