title: Ryanodine receptor gene expression thymomas.
abstract: Ryanodine receptor (RyR) antibodies are present in sera of myasthenics with thymoma, and their titer correlates with morbidity and mortality. We investigated whether skeletal muscle RyR expression in thymic tissues could be the source of immune sensitization to the RyR. Skeletal muscle RyR gene expression was investigated using reverse transcription followed by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction. Hyperplastic and normal thymuses expressed significant levels of RyR, but RyR gene transcripts was statistically less likely in thymomas than in hyperplastic and normal thymus (P < 0.05). The presence of RyR transcripts in thymomas did not correlate with myasthenic manifestations, thymic pathology, or serum RyR antibodies. We conclude that the skeletal muscle RyR in thymoma is not the inciting antigen for immune sensitization to RyR epitopes in thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Kusner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mygland
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kaminski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D013945:Thymoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel