Lymphocyte stimulation by acetylcholine receptor in polymyositis.
Lymphocytes of twenty-seven patients with polymyositis were incubated in vitro with cholinergic receptor rich membranes obtained from the electric organs of Torpedo Marmorata. Lymphocytes of polymyositic patients were slightly stimulated; positive responses were present mainly in patients affected from more than a year. Sensitization against the nicotinic cholinergic receptor may explain the occurrence of the myasthenic syndrome with polymyositis.
D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology; D004557:Electric Organ; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009220:Myositis / Q000276:immunology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000276:immunology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology
D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic