The JI
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     
 

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Berman, P. W.
Right arrow Articles by Heinemann, S. F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Berman, P. W.
Right arrow Articles by Heinemann, S. F.

The Journal of Immunology, Vol 132, Issue 2 711-717, Copyright © 1984 by American Association of Immunologists

ARTICLES

Antigenic modulation of junctional acetylcholine receptor is not sufficient to account for the development of myasthenia gravis in receptor immunized mice

PW Berman and SF Heinemann

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disease thought to result from an autoimmune response against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of the neuromuscular junction. Although there is little doubt that the muscular weakness characteristic of MG can be attributed to an antibody- mediated reduction in the density of AChR, the mechanism responsible for this reduction remains uncertain. In the present studies we have used a mouse model of MG, termed experimental myasthenia gravis (EMG), to test the possibility that antigenic modulation of AChR may be the principle mechanism whereby this reduction in AChR density is achieved. We found that immunization of mice with AChR, on average, leads to a twofold increase in the rate of junctional AChR degradation. Because this effect occurred to the same extent in mice that developed severe paralysis and in those that gave no indication of muscular weakness, the role of antigenic modulation as a major pathologic mechanism in MG is questioned.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.Home page
M. LOSEN, P. MARTINEZ-MARTINEZ, M. PHERNAMBUCQ, J. SCHUURMAN, P. W.H.I. PARREN, and M. H. DE BAETS
Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis by Preventing Acetylcholine Receptor Modulation
Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., June 1, 2008; 1132(1): 174 - 179.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Website Copyright © 1984 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc. All rights reserved.
All Contents Copyright © 1984 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc. All rights reserved.