Anti-acetylcholinesterase antibodies associate with ocular myasthenia gravis.
In MG, anti-AChR or anti-MuSK abs impair neuromuscular transmission. Partial inhibition of AChE can ameliorate symptoms, while a complete block causes a cholinergic blockade. We found anti-AChE abs in 115/240 MG patients, with no correlation with sex, age at onset, thymus pathology, presence of anti-AChR or anti-MuSK antibodies. We found a correlation with the ocular form of the disease, and with milder forms of MG not requiring immunosuppressants; moreover, when we considered only those patients who were off AChEI therapy, we found that ocular patients were positive for anti-AChE abs, while generalized patients were negative. According to an experimental model, we hypothesize that anti-AChE abs could contribute to ptosis through an inhibition of the sympathetic innervation of the tarsal muscle.
Provenzano
Carlo
C
Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University, 00168 Rome, Italy. liproven@rm.unicatt.it
Marino
Mariapaola
M
Scuderi
Flavia
F
Evoli
Amelia
A
Bartoccioni
Emanuela
E
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase