Low serum levels of bilirubin and albumin are associated with multiple autoimmune diseases, but their role in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is unknown.
The splenocytes isolated from mice treated with PCE for 18 and 24weeks showed greater Th17 cell proliferation and increased release of IL-17 in culture supernatants following stimulation with MDA-mouse serum albumin adducts, suggesting that MDA-modified proteins may act as an immunologic trigger by activating Th17 cells and contribute to PCE-mediated autoimmunity.