title: Specific immunoadsorbent for myasthenia gravis treatment: development of synthetic peptide designed to remove antiacetylcholine receptor antibody.
abstract: We have developed Medisorba MG, a new immunoadsorbent column for myasthenia gravis (MG). The alpha 183-200 segment of the Torpedo Californica acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is recognized as the acetylcholine binding site by the blocking antibody, which is one of the anti-AChR antibodies involved in the pathogenesis of MG. As a specific affinity ligand to remove the blocking antibody, Torpedo alpha 183-200 was synthesized and immobilized covalently to porous cellulose beads. This immunoadsorbent showed specific removal of the blocking antibody without reducing IgG and albumin levels significantly in clinical evaluation and in vitro study. Clinical improvement was found in 78% of the cases, and no adverse effects were observed in any case. The Medisorba MG column has been confirmed as a useful device for the treatment of MG.
authors.affiliation: Kuraray Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyahara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakaji
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D002482:Cellulose; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007164:Immunosorbents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008024:Ligands; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000628:therapy*; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D014101:Torpedo
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007164:Immunosorbents; D008024:Ligands; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D012709:Serum Albumin; D002482:Cellulose; D000109:Acetylcholine