THE RELATION OF CLINICAL-DISEASE TO ANTIBODY TITER, PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSE AND NEUROPHYSIOLOGY IN MURINE EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE MYASTHENIA-GRAVIS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 51  (3) , 543-550
Abstract
Murine myasthenia is a relatively faithful model of the human disease. Anti-AChR [acetylcholine receptor] antibody titers, lymphocyte proliferative response to AChR, characteristic electromyographic (EMG) abnormalities and muscle strength were studied at weekly intervals after immunization of C57B16J mice with Torpedo AChR. The boosting immunization at 1 mo. after the primary immunization resulted in a progressive increase of anti-AChR IgG antibodies, but caused a marked drop in the proliferative response. Although characteristic EMG abnormalities occurred in nearly all immunized mice, clinical disease appeared very late or not at all. These data parallel findings in human myasthenia.