Standardization of the experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) model by immunization of rats with Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptors- recommendations for methods and experimental designs.

Authors

Mario Losen
Pilar Martinez-Martinez
Peter C. Molenaar
Konstantinos Lazaridis
Socrates Tzartos
Talma Brenner
Rui-Sheng Duan
Jie Luo
Jon Lindstrom
Linda Kusner, George Washington UniversityFollow

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

8-2015

Journal

Experimental Neurology

Volume

270

Inclusive Pages

18-28

DOI

10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.03.010

Keywords

Immunization--methods; Immunization--standards; Myasthenia Gravis, Autoimmune, Experimental

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) with antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is characterized by a chronic, fatigable weakness of voluntary muscles. The production of autoantibodies involves the dysregulation of T cells which provide the environment for the development of autoreactive B cells. The symptoms are caused by destruction of the postsynaptic membrane and degradation of the AChR by IgG autoantibodies, predominantly of the G1 and G3 subclasses. Active immunization of animals with AChR from mammalian muscles, AChR from Torpedo or Electrophorus electric organs, and recombinant or synthetic AChR fragments generates a chronic model of MG, termed experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). This model covers cellular mechanisms involved in the immune response against the AChR, e.g. antigen presentation, T cell-help and regulation, B cell selection and differentiation into plasma cells. Our aim is to define standard operation procedures and recommendations for the rat EAMG model using purified AChR from the Torpedo californica electric organ, in order to facilitate more rapid translation of preclinical proof of concept or efficacy studies into clinical trials and, ultimately, clinical practice.

Comments

Reproduced with permission of Elsevier, Inc. Experimental Neurology.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

APA Citation

Losen, M., Martinez-Martinez, P., Molenaar, P. C., Lazaridis, K., Tzartos, S., Brenner, T., . . . Kusner, L. (2015). Standardization of the experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) model by immunization of rats with torpedo californica acetylcholine receptors - recommendations for methods and experimental designs. Experimental Neurology, 270, 18-28.

Peer Reviewed

1

Open Access

1