Antigen-specific immunoadsorption of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies from sera of patients with myastenia gravis.
BACKGROUND
The binding of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies (AChRAb) to the main immunogenic region (MIR) of AChR alpha-subunit in the neuromuscular junction is the major pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis (MG).


METHODS
A synthetic peptide of 10 amino acids corresponding to the MIR of human AChR was coupled with cellulose beads to make an antigen-specific immunoadsorbent (hMIR10-CB).


RESULTS
The hMIR10-CB could remove AChRAb in MG sera by 40.3+/-2.3%, compared to a tryptophan nonspecific adsorbent Trp-CB by only 22.4+/-1.5% as determined in ELISA, and also showed good blood compatibility for blood cells, plasma ions and plasma proteins as checked in whole blood perfusion in rabbits.


CONCLUSIONS
The antigen-specific immunoadsorbent hMIR10-CB can serve as a potential candidate in the immunoadsorption treatment of MG.
Sun
Changyuan
C
Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji City, Jilin Province, P. R. China.
Meng
Fanping
F
Li
Yingxin
Y
Jin
Quanxin
Q
Li
Honghua
H
Li
Fangfang
F
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001781:Blood Component Removal; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D008863:Microspheres; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism
D001323:Autoantibodies; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D014364:Tryptophan; D002482:Cellulose