title: Antibody production by blood lymphocytes in myasthenia gravis: reduction in disease of long duration.
abstract: We measured acetylcholine receptor antibody (AchR Ab) and IgG secreted in vitro by blood lymphocytes from myasthenia gravis patients and controls. Eleven of 20 patients secreted AchR Ab. Controls did not secrete AchR Ab. IgG secretion was lower in patients who were nonsecretors of AchR Ab (351 +/- 127 ng/ml/10 days) than in secretors (3,563 +/- 949) and both groups differed from controls (1,305 +/- 353). Absence of secretion of AchR Ab and low IgG secretion correlated with long disease duration. The data suggest that nonspecific suppression of B cell mediated immune function may occur in long-standing myasthenia gravis.
authors: Department of Pathology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors: R L
authors: RL
authors: Kaufman
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Oger
mesh_terms: D000917:Antibody Formation; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic