Antibodies Prepared to Neuronal Glutamate Receptor Subunit3 Bind IFNα-Receptors: Implications for an Autoimmune Process

Anti-glutamate receptor (GluR) agonist-like antibodies prepared in rabbits that are similar to autoantibodies found in Rasmussen's encephalitis (RE) were found to exhibit greater immunoreactivity towards human interferon alpha receptor (IFNAR-1) than to GluR3. Since antibodies prepared to a defined region of GluR3 can react preferentially to an unrelated sequence in the human IFNAR-1, we propose that the IFNAR-1 may be an heteroclitic antigen of GluR3. These results suggest that differential reactivity toward heteroclitic antigens may contribute to variable clinical characteristics of certain autoimmune diseases.