title: Cellular immune response against acetylcholine receptor in myasthenia gravis: I. Relevance to clinical course and pathogenesis.
abstract: The cellular immune response to acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo electric organ was studied in 100 myasthenic patients and 41 healthy subjects. The mean stimulation index (SI) was 2 +/- 0.15 for the patients, and 1.06 +/- 0.08 for the controls. Stimulation was significantly greater when the test medium contained autologous serum rather than a standard universal serum (AB serum). Young patients were generally good responders (SI, 2.39 +/- 0.26), but older patients usually did not respond (mean SI, 1.18 +/- 0.13). Among the younger patients, men had higher responses than women (mean SI, 3.13 +/- 0.63 and 2.05 +/- 0.23, respectively). There was no correlation between degree of lymphocytic reactivity and duration or severity of symptoms.
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D000109:Acetylcholine