Myocytes respond in vivo to an antibody reactive with the acetylcholine receptor by upregulating interleukin-15: an interferon-gamma activator with the potential to influence the severity and course of experimental myasthenia gravis.
The monoclonal antibody, mAb35, which binds the main immunogenic region of the post-junctional muscle receptor for acetylcholine (AChR), results in contractile dysfunction and symptoms of experimental myasthenia gravis (EAMG). As described below, exposure to mAb35 also results in the production by muscle of increased levels of the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-activating cytokine, interleukin-15. This effect is accompanied by the increased trafficking of leukocytes through muscle, some that produce IFN-gamma. These observations may be relevant to the induction of disease symptoms since numerous reports from other investigators indicate that IFN-gamma may play a pivotal role in this disease process.
Stegall
T
T
Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Mail Code 7758, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA.
Krolick
K A
KA
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D020720:Myasthenia Gravis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019409:Interleukin-15; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D007371:Interferon-gamma