V beta-specific immunotoxin selectively kills acetylcholine receptor-reactive T lymphocytes from mice with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis.
Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with purified acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is known to induce a T cell-dependent antibody response that results in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). Since past observations link V beta 6+ T cells with a prominent AChR epitope specificity, a V beta 6-specific immunotoxin (VIT6) was tested in vitro for its ability to selectively kill monoclonal and polyclonal T cells that demonstrate reactivity against AChR. Results described below clearly demonstrate the ability to selectively kill AChR-reactive T cells based on their expression of a particular V beta-associated antigen receptor.
Thompson
P A
PA
Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78284.
McAtee
R
R
Infante
A J
AJ
Currier
P
P
Beninati
W
W
Krolick
K A
KA
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D012276:Ricin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D000922:Immunotoxins; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D012276:Ricin