Myasthenia gravis: antibodies to extracellularly exposed antigenic determinants of acetylcholine receptor.
We have used a simple method to detect autoantibodies that react with extracellularly exposed antigenic determinants of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) of cultured rat muscle. Immunoglobulins from 30 patients with myasthenia gravis contained antibodies to detergent-solubilized AChR and bound to extracellularly exposed AChR. The antibody titer with solubilized rat AChR did not correlate with clinical severity, but ability of antibody to bind to extracellularly exposed AChR did correlate well and was also closely related to the acceleration of AChR degradation.
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D000939:Epitopes; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic