Effect of specific antibodies on acetylcholine receptor turnover: increased degradation controls low density of cell surface receptor.
BC3H-1 cells express surface nicotinic receptors. We treated these cells with pooled serum from myasthenic patients. After 5 hours, the number of surface receptors decreased to one-half of baseline and remained at this low level for at least 72 hours. The rate of receptor degradation was increased by myasthenic serum, but the synthesis of new receptors was unaffected. The regulation of the number of surface nicotinic receptors is thus mediated by an accelerated internalization of the receptor.
D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002999:Clone Cells; D006801:Humans; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors
D000906:Antibodies; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic