Cellular immune response to acetylcholine receptors in murine experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis: inhibition with monoclonal anti-I-A antibodies.
Gene(s) at the I-A subregion of the murine major histocompatibility complex influence susceptibility to experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. C57Bl/6 mice immunized with acetylcholine receptors (AChR) in complete Freund's adjuvant demonstrated cellular and humoral immune responses to AChR. They developed muscle weakness characteristic of myasthenia gravis and demonstrated a reduction in the muscle AChR content. The kinetics of AChR-specific lymphocyte proliferation generally correlate with anti-AChR antibody response. AChR-specific lymphocyte proliferation was also observed in C57Bl/6 splenocytes after secondary immunization with AChR. The in vitro cellular reactivity to AChR in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) mice (C57Bl/6) was suppressed by monoclonal anti-I-Ab antibodies directed against private (Ia20) or public (Ia8) specificities, suggesting a critical role for these Ia determinants in the cellular immune response to AChR in murine EAMG.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic