Myasthenia gravis sera have no effect on cardiomyocytes in vitro.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder primarily caused by circulating autoantibodies targeting the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Several studies have suggested a link between MG and heart disease. Girardi heart cells were treated with MG sera, measuring cytotoxic effects using flow cytometry, adenylate kinase (AK) release and evaluating morphology. MG sera did not induce morphological changes in the cells. AK release from cells treated with MG sera did not exceed controls and flow cytometric examination did not reveal any increase in dead or apoptotic cells. We conclude that MG sera have no cytotoxic effect in our heart cell culture system.
Helgeland
Geir
G
Department of Clinical Medicine, Section for Neurology, University of Bergen, Norway. geir.helgeland@gmail.com
Luckman
Steven P
SP
Romi
Fredrik R
FR
Jonassen
Anne K
AK
Gilhus
Nils Erik
NE
D000263:Adenylate Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002460:Cell Line; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D007106:Immune Sera; D000263:Adenylate Kinase