title: Subcutaneous administration of T-epitope sequences of the acetylcholine receptor prevents experimental myasthenia gravis.
abstract: Immunization with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) causes experimental myasthenia gravis (EMG). The s.c. administration to C57B1/6 mice of synthetic AChR CD4+ epitopes, before and during AChR immunization, reduced the epitope-specific CD4+ responses and the anti-AChR Ab synthesis, and prevented EMG. The s.c. administration of solubilized AChR had effects similar to those of peptide treatment. Sham-tolerized mice had only Th1 anti-AChR cells, whereas peptide-treated mice had also Th2 cells, and Th2-induced anti-peptide Ab. Established EMG was not affected by s.c. peptide treatment, whereas it worsened after s.c. administration of solubilized AChR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108, USA.
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Karachunski
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Ostlie
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Okita
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garman
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Conti-Fine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D007114:Immunization; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*; D012995:Solubility; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014101:Torpedo
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D000939:Epitopes; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic