Detection and characterization of MuSK antibodies in seronegative myasthenia gravis

J McConville, ME Farrugia, D Beeson… - Annals of …, 2004 - Wiley Online Library
J McConville, ME Farrugia, D Beeson, U Kishore, R Metcalfe, J Newsom‐Davis, A Vincent
Annals of neurology, 2004Wiley Online Library
Antibodies to rat muscle specific kinase, MuSK, have recently been identified in some
generalized “seronegative” myasthenia gravis (SNMG) patients, who are often females with
marked bulbar symptoms. Using immunoprecipitation of 125I‐labelled‐human MuSK, 27 of
66 (41%) seronegative patients were positive, but 18 ocular SNMG patients, 105 AChR
antibody positive MG patients, and 108 controls were negative. The antibodies are of high
affinity (Kds around 100 pM) with titers between 1 and 200 nM. They bind to the extracellular …
Abstract
Antibodies to rat muscle specific kinase, MuSK, have recently been identified in some generalized “seronegative” myasthenia gravis (SNMG) patients, who are often females with marked bulbar symptoms. Using immunoprecipitation of 125I‐labelled‐human MuSK, 27 of 66 (41%) seronegative patients were positive, but 18 ocular SNMG patients, 105 AChR antibody positive MG patients, and 108 controls were negative. The antibodies are of high affinity (Kds around 100 pM) with titers between 1 and 200 nM. They bind to the extracellular Ig‐like domains of soluble or native MuSK. Surprisingly they are predominantly in the IgG4 subclass. MuSK‐antibody associated MG may be differnet in etiological and pathological mechanisms.
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