Specific immune complexes augment in vitro acetylcholine receptor-specific T-cell proliferation.
We investigated the interaction between acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-specific T-helper cells from patients with myasthenia gravis and murine monoclonal anti-AChR antibodies. At optimal antigen concentration, anti-AChR antibodies neither enhanced nor impaired T-cell responses. However, at substimulatory antigen concentration, addition of anti-AChR antibodies substantially enhanced the proliferation of AChR-specific T cells. In spite of low amounts of antigen, immune complex formation allowed highly efficient capture and uptake of antigen via Fc receptors on antigen-presenting cells, which could be inhibited by an antibody to Fc receptors. Immune complex-mediated stimulation of sensitized AChR-specific T lymphocytes in vivo may contribute to the exacerbation of the disease, and demonstrates the interaction between T and B lymphocytes in myasthenia gravis.
Melms
A
A
Max-Planck-Society, Clinical Research Unit for Multiple Sclerosis, Würzburg, Germany.
Weissert
R
R
Klinkert
W E
WE
Schalke
B C
BC
Tzartos
S
S
Wekerle
H
H
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D015703:Antigens, CD; D001323:Autoantibodies; D000939:Epitopes; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic