The myasthenia gravis thymus: a rare source of human autoantibody-secreting plasma cells for testing potential therapeutics.
In early-onset myasthenia gravis (EOMG), the thymus is colonized by lymph node-like infiltrates including T cell areas and germinal centers. Our Group(1) showed (1978) spontaneous anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) autoantibody production by EOMG thymic cells. Especially after enzymic dispersal, these are enriched in plasma cells that are evidently autonomous, long-lived, terminally differentiated and radio-resistant. Radiolabeled AChR is highly sensitive both for localizing them in situ and detecting their ongoing antibody production in culture at limiting cell numbers. Thus EOMG thymi are a readily available source of specific autoimmune human plasma cells suitable for studying their biology and testing new therapies.
Hill
Marguerite E
ME
Neurosciences Department, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, SA6 6NL, UK.
Shiono
Hiroyuki
H
Newsom-Davis
John
J
Willcox
Nick
N
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000473:pathology*; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic