title: T-cell immunity to acetylcholine receptor and its subunits in Lewis rats over the course of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis.
abstract: Lymph nodes, spleen and thymus obtained from Lewis rats were examined over the course of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) for the distribution and the number of antigen-reactive CD4+ T helper cells which, upon recognition of Torpedo acetylcholine receptor (AChR) or the alpha, beta, gamma or delta subunits of Torpedo AChR, responded by secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). T cells with these specificities were detected in these three immune organs. Numbers were highest in lymph nodes. In spleen and thymus, numbers of antigen-reactive T cells did not differ. T cells reacting against the intact AChR were more frequent than T cells recognizing any of the subunits. The immunogenicity between the four subunits did not differ, with the exception that the alpha subunit induced a slightly higher T-cell response. No restriction of the T-cell repertoire to the four subunits was detected during early compared to late phases of EAMG. The AChR and subunit-reactive T cells could--via secretion of effector molecules including IFN-gamma--play an important role in the initiation and perpetuation of EAMG, and consequently also of human myasthenia gravis. T cells with the same specificities were also detected in control animals injected with adjuvant only, but at much lower numbers which were within the range of T cells recognizing the control antigen myelin basic protein. They could represent naturally occurring autoimmune T cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Z Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: W X
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D003208:Concanavalin A; D007371:Interferon-gamma