Increased expression of rapsyn in muscles prevents acetylcholine receptor loss in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis.

Journal article

Myasthenia gravis is usually caused by autoantibodies to the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). The AChR is clustered and anchored in the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) by a cytoplasmic protein called rapsyn. We previously showed that resistance to experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) in aged rats correlates with increased rapsyn concentration at the NMJ. It is possible, therefore, that endogenous rapsyn expression may be an important determinant of AChR los...

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Authors: Losen, M; Stassen, M; Martínez-Martínez, P; Machiels, B; Duimel, H

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Brain : a journal of neurology
• Volume: 128
• Issue: Pt 10
• Pages: 2327-2337
• Publication date: 2005-10-01
• DOI: 10.1093/brain/awh612
• EISSN: 1460-2156
• ISSN: 0006-8950
• Language: English
• Keywords: Electromyography; Myasthenia Gravis, Autoimmune, Experimental; Muscle Proteins; Synaptic Transmission; Action Potentials; Microscopy, Electron; Radioimmunoassay; Animals; Female; Muscle, Skeletal; Immunohistochemistry; Rats; Up-Regulation; Receptors, Cholinergic; Neuromuscular Junction; Microscopy, Confocal; Rats, Inbred Lew; Acute Disease; Fluorescent Antibody Technique