title: Specific adsorbents for myasthenia gravis autoantibodies using mutants of the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor extracellular domains.
abstract: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is usually caused by antibodies against the muscle acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Plasmapheresis and immunoadsorption are often used to treat non-responsive patients. Antigen-specific immunoadsorption would remove only the pathogenic autoantibodies reducing side-effects. We expressed AChR extracellular domain mutants for use as specific adsorbents, and characterized them. Antigenicity and capacity for autoantibody binding were improved compared to the wild-type proteins. Adsorption appeared to be fast, as high plasma flow-rates could be applied. The bound autoantibodies were eluted repeatedly, allowing column reuse, without compromise in efficiency. Overall, the adsorbents were specific, efficient and suitable for use in therapy.
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Pasteur Institute, GR11521 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lazaridis
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Pasteur Institute, GR11521 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Evaggelakou
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Pasteur Institute, GR11521 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bentenidi
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Pasteur Institute, GR11521 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sideri
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grapsa
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Pasteur Institute, GR11521 Athens, Greece; Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, GR26504 Patras, Greece. Electronic address: tzartos@pasteur.gr.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tzartos
mesh_terms: D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001781:Blood Component Removal; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007164:Immunosorbents; D008297:Male; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007164:Immunosorbents; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic
keywords: Extracellular domain; Immunoadsorption; Myasthenia gravis; Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; Therapy