Role of acetylcholine receptor antibody complexes in muscle in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis.

Abstract

In experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis anti-rat nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody titers correlated significantly with the AChR-antibody complexes found in muscle. It was shown that at least a large part of the AChR-antibody complexes are formed in vitro, which can be prevented by washing of the muscle homogenate. Using a modified assay, no differences in AChR-antibody complexes could be detected between rats with and without symptoms of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. Also no difference in AChR loss nor in inhibition of alpha-bungarotoxin binding to AChR was found between these groups of rats. However, a significant difference in the reduction of AChR function was found, using an assay measuring agonist-induced 22Na+ flux into the TE671 cell line.

• Authors: J J Verschuuren, Y M Graus, R O Theunissen, T Yamamoto, A Vincent, P J van Breda Vriesman, M H De Baets
• Journal: Journal of neuroimmunology (J Neuroimmunol) Vol. 36 Issue 2-3 Pg. 117-25 (Feb 1992) ISSN: 0165-5728 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 1732277 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigen-Antibody Complex
• Receptors, Cholinergic

Topics

• Animals
• Antigen-Antibody Complex (analysis)
• Autoimmune Diseases (immunology)
• Female
• Muscles (immunology)
• Myasthenia Gravis (immunology)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Lew
• Receptors, Cholinergic (analysis, immunology)