Immunological relationship between acetylcholine receptor and thymus: a possible significance in myasthenia gravis.

A Aharonov, R Tarrab-Hazdai… - Proceedings of the …, 1975 - National Acad Sciences
A Aharonov, R Tarrab-Hazdai, O Abramsky, S Fuchs
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1975National Acad Sciences
A defined immunological cross-reaction was observed between acetylcholine receptor
fraction from the electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, and two calf thymus fractions. The
cross-reaction was demonstrated on the cellular level by means of the lymphocyte
transformation technique, and on the humoral level, by means of the microcomplement
fixation assay. In the human disease myasthenia gravis both acetylcholine receptor at the
neuromuscular junction and the thymus are affected, probably by an autoimmune …
A defined immunological cross-reaction was observed between acetylcholine receptor fraction from the electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, and two calf thymus fractions. The cross-reaction was demonstrated on the cellular level by means of the lymphocyte transformation technique, and on the humoral level, by means of the microcomplement fixation assay. In the human disease myasthenia gravis both acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction and the thymus are affected, probably by an autoimmune mechanism. The immunological cross-reaction between acetylcholine receptor and thymic components may explain the association between endplate and thymus disorders in myasthenia gravis.
National Acad Sciences