1
|
Crisafulli S, Boccanegra B, Carollo M, Bottani E, Mantuano P, Trifirò G, De Luca A. Myasthenia Gravis Treatment: From Old Drugs to Innovative Therapies with a Glimpse into the Future. CNS Drugs 2024; 38:15-32. [PMID: 38212553 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-023-01059-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare autoimmune disease that causes debilitating muscle weakness due to impaired neuromuscular transmission. Since most (about 80-90%) MG patients present autoantibodies against the acetylcholine receptor, standard medical therapy consists of symptomatic treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., pyridostigmine). In addition, considering the autoimmune basis of MG, standard therapy includes immunomodulating agents, such as corticosteroids, azathioprine, cyclosporine A, and cyclophosphamide. New strategies have been proposed for the treatment of MG and include complement blockade (i.e., eculizumab, ravulizumab, and zilucoplan) and neonatal Fc receptor antagonism (i.e., efgartigimod and rozanolixizumab). The aim of this review is to provide a detailed overview of the pre- and post-marketing evidence on the five pharmacological treatments most recently approved for the treatment of MG, by identifying both preclinical and clinical studies registered in clinicaltrials.gov. A description of the molecules currently under evaluation for the treatment of MG is also provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brigida Boccanegra
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Massimo Carollo
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, P.le L.A. Scuro 10, 37124, Verona, Italy
| | - Emanuela Bottani
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, P.le L.A. Scuro 10, 37124, Verona, Italy
| | - Paola Mantuano
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Gianluca Trifirò
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, P.le L.A. Scuro 10, 37124, Verona, Italy.
| | - Annamaria De Luca
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lipka AF, Verschuuren JJGM. Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2024; 200:307-325. [PMID: 38494285 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-823912-4.00012-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by proximal muscle weakness, loss of tendon reflexes, and autonomic dysfunction. Muscle weakness usually starts in the upper legs and can progress to oculobulbar and in severe cases respiratory muscles. P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) localized in the presynaptic motor nerve terminal and in the autonomic nervous system are targeted by antibodies in LEMS patients. These antibodies can be detected in about 90% of patients, and the presence of decrement and increment upon repetitive nerve stimulation is also a highly sensitive diagnostic test. Rapid diagnosis is important because of the association with SCLC in 50%-60% of patients, which stresses the need for vigorous tumor screening after diagnosis. Clinical parameters can predict tumor probability and guide frequency of tumor screening. Treatment of the tumor as well as symptomatic treatment and immunosuppression can effectively control symptoms in the majority of patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander F Lipka
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Groene Hart Hospital, Gouda, The Netherlands.
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Vakrakou AG, Karachaliou E, Chroni E, Zouvelou V, Tzanetakos D, Salakou S, Papadopoulou M, Tzartos S, Voumvourakis K, Kilidireas C, Giannopoulos S, Tsivgoulis G, Tzartos J. Immunotherapies in MuSK-positive Myasthenia Gravis; an IgG4 antibody-mediated disease. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1212757. [PMID: 37564637 PMCID: PMC10410455 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1212757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) Myasthenia Gravis (MG) represents a prototypical antibody-mediated disease characterized by predominantly focal muscle weakness (neck, facial, and bulbar muscles) and fatigability. The pathogenic antibodies mostly belong to the immunoglobulin subclass (Ig)G4, a feature which attributes them their specific properties and pathogenic profile. On the other hand, acetylcholine receptor (AChR) MG, the most prevalent form of MG, is characterized by immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 and IgG3 antibodies to the AChR. IgG4 class autoantibodies are impotent to fix complement and only weakly bind Fc-receptors expressed on immune cells and exert their pathogenicity via interfering with the interaction between their targets and binding partners (e.g. between MuSK and LRP4). Cardinal differences between AChR and MuSK-MG are the thymus involvement (not prominent in MuSK-MG), the distinct HLA alleles, and core immunopathological patterns of pathology in neuromuscular junction, structure, and function. In MuSK-MG, classical treatment options are usually less effective (e.g. IVIG) with the need for prolonged and high doses of steroids difficult to be tapered to control symptoms. Exceptional clinical response to plasmapheresis and rituximab has been particularly observed in these patients. Reduction of antibody titers follows the clinical efficacy of anti-CD20 therapies, a feature implying the role of short-lived plasma cells (SLPB) in autoantibody production. Novel therapeutic monoclonal against B cells at different stages of their maturation (like plasmablasts), or against molecules involved in B cell activation, represent promising therapeutic targets. A revolution in autoantibody-mediated diseases is pharmacological interference with the neonatal Fc receptor, leading to a rapid reduction of circulating IgGs (including autoantibodies), an approach already suitable for AChR-MG and promising for MuSK-MG. New precision medicine approaches involve Chimeric autoantibody receptor T (CAAR-T) cells that are engineered to target antigen-specific B cells in MuSK-MG and represent a milestone in the development of targeted immunotherapies. This review aims to provide a detailed update on the pathomechanisms involved in MuSK-MG (cellular and humoral aberrations), fostering the understanding of the latest indications regarding the efficacy of different treatment strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aigli G. Vakrakou
- First Department of Neurology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Karachaliou
- Second Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Elisabeth Chroni
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Zouvelou
- First Department of Neurology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Tzanetakos
- Second Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Stavroula Salakou
- Second Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Marianna Papadopoulou
- Second Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Department of Physiotherapy, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - Socrates Tzartos
- Tzartos NeuroDiagnostics, Athens, Greece
- Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Voumvourakis
- Second Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Constantinos Kilidireas
- First Department of Neurology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Department of Neurology, Henry Dunant Hospital Center, Athens, Greece
| | - Sotirios Giannopoulos
- Second Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Tsivgoulis
- Second Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Department of Neurology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - John Tzartos
- Second Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Stascheit F, Aigner A, Mergenthaler P, Hotter B, Hoffmann S, Lehnerer S, Meisel C, Meisel A. Serum neurofilament light chain in myasthenia gravis subgroups: An exploratory cohort and case-Control study. Front Neurol 2023; 13:1056322. [PMID: 36712429 PMCID: PMC9875128 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1056322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to evaluate the association of neurofilament light chain (Nfl) with neuromuscular destruction and disease severity in the serum of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Materials and methods Sera from 134 patients with MG with varying degrees of disease severity and autoantibody (Abs) status were analyzed and compared to controls in a cross-sectional design. Prospectively, we additionally measured serum NfL (sNfl) levels in patients with MG longitudinally for up to 3 years. Based on linear regression, differences between patients and controls were assessed. With correlation coefficients and mixed linear regression, the association among sNfl levels, socio-demographics, disease activity (Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) score and Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) scale), Abs-status (acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR-Abs), muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase antibody (MuSK-Abs), lipoprotein-related protein 4 (LRP4), and seronegative), Abs titer, treatment regime (pyridostigmine, steroids, and immunosuppressive therapies), and thymectomy were investigated. Results sNfl levels were higher in patients with MG compared to controls (median: 11.2 vs. 7.88), where sNfl levels were highest in anti-AChR-Abs positive patients (median 12.6), followed by anti-MuSK-Abs positive, anti-LRP4-Abs positive, and seronegative patients. Adjusting for age and sex, sNfl levels of patients with MG were on average 35% higher compared to controls (35.1, 95% CI: 8.4;68.3) and highest for patients with seronegative MG (44.35; 95% CI 16.47; 78.90). We found no relevant relationship between individual changes in sNfl and changes in QMG and MG-ADL scores. Conclusion sNfl levels are higher in patients with MG than in controls but were not consistently associated with clinical severity. Thus, sNfl is not a suitable biomarker to monitor individual disease progression in patients with MG.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frauke Stascheit
- Department of Neurology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany,NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany,*Correspondence: Frauke Stascheit ✉
| | - Annette Aigner
- Institute of Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Mergenthaler
- Department of Neurology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany,NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benjamin Hotter
- Department of Neurology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany,NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah Hoffmann
- Department of Neurology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany,NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sophie Lehnerer
- NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Meisel
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Labor Berlin, Charité Vivantes GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Meisel
- Department of Neurology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany,NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Integrated Myasthenia Gravis Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Schmidt CQ, Smith RJH. Protein therapeutics and their lessons: Expect the unexpected when inhibiting the multi-protein cascade of the complement system. Immunol Rev 2023; 313:376-401. [PMID: 36398537 PMCID: PMC9852015 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Over a century after the discovery of the complement system, the first complement therapeutic was approved for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). It was a long-acting monoclonal antibody (aka 5G1-1, 5G1.1, h5G1.1, and now known as eculizumab) that targets C5, specifically preventing the generation of C5a, a potent anaphylatoxin, and C5b, the first step in the eventual formation of membrane attack complex. The enormous clinical and financial success of eculizumab across four diseases (PNH, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), myasthenia gravis (MG), and anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)) has fueled a surge in complement therapeutics, especially targeting diseases with an underlying complement pathophysiology for which anti-C5 therapy is ineffective. Intensive research has also uncovered challenges that arise from C5 blockade. For example, PNH patients can still face extravascular hemolysis or pharmacodynamic breakthrough of complement suppression during complement-amplifying conditions. These "side" effects of a stoichiometric inhibitor like eculizumab were unexpected and are incompatible with some of our accepted knowledge of the complement cascade. And they are not unique to C5 inhibition. Indeed, "exceptions" to the rules of complement biology abound and have led to unprecedented and surprising insights. In this review, we will describe initial, present and future aspects of protein inhibitors of the complement cascade, highlighting unexpected findings that are redefining some of the mechanistic foundations upon which the complement cascade is organized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Q. Schmidt
- Institute of Pharmacology of Natural Products and Clinical Pharmacology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Richard J. H. Smith
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Molecular Otolaryngology and Renal Research Laboratories, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Novel treatment strategies for acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive myasthenia gravis and related disorders. Autoimmun Rev 2022; 21:103104. [PMID: 35452851 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The presence of autoantibodies directed against the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is the most common cause of myasthenia gravis (MG). These antibodies damage the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction and cause muscle weakness by depleting AChRs and thus impairing synaptic transmission. As one of the best-characterized antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases, AChR-MG has often served as a reference model for other autoimmune disorders. Classical pharmacological treatments, including broad-spectrum immunosuppressive drugs, are effective in many patients. However, complete remission cannot be achieved in all patients, and 10% of patients do not respond to currently used therapies. This may be attributed to production of autoantibodies by long-lived plasma cells which are resistant to conventional immunosuppressive drugs. Hence, novel therapies specifically targeting plasma cells might be a suitable therapeutic approach for selected patients. Additionally, in order to reduce side effects of broad-spectrum immunosuppression, targeted immunotherapies and symptomatic treatments will be required. This review presents established therapies as well as novel therapeutic approaches for MG and related conditions, with a focus on AChR-MG.
Collapse
|
7
|
Nelke C, Spatola M, Schroeter CB, Wiendl H, Lünemann JD. Neonatal Fc Receptor-Targeted Therapies in Neurology. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:729-740. [PMID: 34997443 PMCID: PMC9294083 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-021-01175-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoantibodies are increasingly recognized for their pathogenic potential in a growing number of neurological diseases. While myasthenia gravis represents the prototypic antibody (Ab)-mediated neurological disease, many more disorders characterized by Abs targeting neuronal or glial antigens have been identified over the past two decades. Depletion of humoral immune components including immunoglobulin G (IgG) through plasma exchange or immunoadsorption is a successful therapeutic strategy in most of these disease conditions. The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), primarily expressed by endothelial and myeloid cells, facilitates IgG recycling and extends the half-life of IgG molecules. FcRn blockade prevents binding of endogenous IgG to FcRn, which forces these antibodies into lysosomal degradation, leading to IgG depletion. Enhancing the degradation of endogenous IgG by FcRn-targeted therapies proved to be a powerful therapeutic approach in patients with generalized MG and is currently being tested in clinical trials for several other neurological diseases including autoimmune encephalopathies, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, and inflammatory neuropathies. This review illustrates mechanisms of FcRn-targeted therapies and appraises their potential to treat neurological diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Nelke
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Marianna Spatola
- MIT and Harvard Medical School, Ragon Institute of MGH, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Christina B Schroeter
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Heinz Wiendl
- Department of Neurology With Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Munster, Germany
| | - Jan D Lünemann
- Department of Neurology With Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Munster, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Salari N, Fatahi B, Bartina Y, Kazeminia M, Fatahian R, Mohammadi P, Shohaimi S, Mohammadi M. Global prevalence of myasthenia gravis and the effectiveness of common drugs in its treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Transl Med 2021; 19:516. [PMID: 34930325 PMCID: PMC8686543 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-021-03185-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular autoimmune disorder characterized by weakness and disability in the voluntary muscles. There have been several preliminary studies on the epidemiology of myasthenia gravis in different parts of the world and the effectiveness of common drugs in its treatment, but there has been no comprehensive study of the efficacy of common drugs in the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the epidemiology of myasthenia gravis globally and the effectiveness of common drugs in its treatment using systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS Research studies were extracted from IranDoc, MagIran, IranMedex, SID, ScienceDirect, Web of Sciences (WoS), ProQuest, Medline (PubMed), Scopus and Google Scholar based on Cochran's seven-step guidelines using existing keywords extracted in MeSH browser. The I2 test was used to calculate the heterogeneity of studies, and Begg and Mazumdar rank correlation tests were used to assess publication bias. Data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (Version 2). RESULTS In the search for descriptive studies based on the research question, 7374 articles were found. After deleting articles unrelated to the research question, finally, 63 articles with a sample size of 1,206,961,907 people were included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of MG worldwide was estimated to be 12.4 people (95% CI 10.6-14.5) per 100,000 population. For analytical studies on the effectiveness of common myasthenia gravis drugs, 4672 articles were found initially, and after removing articles unrelated to the research question, finally, 20 articles with a sample size of 643 people in the drug group and 619 people in the placebo group were included in the study. As a result of the combination of studies, the difference between the mean QMGS score index after taking Mycophenolate and Immunoglobulin or plasma exchange drugs in the group of patients showed a significant decrease of 1.4 ± 0.77 and 0.62 ± 0.28, respectively (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The results of systematic review of drug evaluation in patients with myasthenia gravis showed that Mycophenolate and Immunoglobulin or plasma exchange drugs have positive effects in the treatment of MG. It also represents the positive effect of immunoglobulin or plasma exchange on reducing SFEMG index and QMGS index and the positive effect of Mycophenolate in reducing MG-ADL index, SFEMG and Anti-AChR antibodies index. In addition, based on a meta-analysis of the random-effect model, the overall prevalence of MG in the world is 12.4 people per 100,000 population, which indicates the urgent need for attention to this disease for prevention and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nader Salari
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Behnaz Fatahi
- Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Yalda Bartina
- Department of Translation Studies, Faculty of Literature, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mohsen Kazeminia
- Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Reza Fatahian
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Payam Mohammadi
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Shamarina Shohaimi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor Malaysia
| | - Masoud Mohammadi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Gerash University of Medical Sciences, Gerash, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibody profiling in patients with immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Blood Adv 2021; 5:3427-3435. [PMID: 34495312 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020004172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with a ThromboSpondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13) autoantibodies cause a severe ADAMTS13 deficiency in immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP). ADAMTS13 consists of a metalloprotease (M), a disintegrin-like (D) domain, 8 thrombospondin type 1 repeats (T1-T8), a cysteine-rich (C), a spacer (S), and 2 CUB domains (CUB1-2). We recently developed a high-throughput epitope mapping assay based on small, nonoverlapping ADAMTS13 fragments (M, DT, CS, T2-T5, T6-T8, CUB1-2). With this assay, we performed a comprehensive epitope mapping using 131 acute-phase samples and for the first time a large group of remission samples (n = 50). Next, samples were stratified according to their immunoprofiles, a field that is largely unexplored in iTTP. Three dominant immunoprofiles were found in acute-phase samples: profile 1: only anti-CS autoantibodies (26.7%); profile 2: both anti-CS and anti-CUB1-2 autoantibodies (12.2%); and profile 3: anti-DT, anti-CS, anti-T2-T5, anti-T6-T8, and anti-CUB1-2 autoantibodies (8.4%). Interestingly, profile 1 was the only dominant immunoprofile in remission samples (52.0%). Clinical data were available for a relatively small number of patients with acute iTTP (>68), and no correlation was found between immunoprofiles and disease severity. Nevertheless, profile 1 was linked with younger and anti-T2-T5 autoantibodies with older age and the absence of anti-CUB1-2 autoantibodies with cerebral involvement. In conclusion, identifying acute phase and remission immunoprofiles in iTTP revealed that anti-CS autoantibodies seem to persist or reappear during remission providing further support for the clinical development of a targeted anti-CS autoantibody therapy. A large cohort study with acute iTTP samples will validate possible links between immunoprofiles or anti-domain autoantibodies and clinical data.
Collapse
|
10
|
Ojile JA, Elver AA. Recognizing Pseudocholinesterase Deficiency in the Post-operative Patient: Diagnosis and Management in the ICU. Kans J Med 2021; 14:182-183. [PMID: 34262639 PMCID: PMC8274813 DOI: 10.17161/kjm.vol1415169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jared A Ojile
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, KS
| | - Ashlie A Elver
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, KS
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Evoli A, Spagni G, Monte G, Damato V. Heterogeneity in myasthenia gravis: considerations for disease management. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2021; 17:761-771. [PMID: 34043932 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2021.1936500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Myasthenia gravis is a rare disease of the neuromuscular junction and a prototype of B cell-driven immunopathology. Pathogenic antibodies target post-synaptic transmembrane proteins, most commonly the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and the muscle-specific tyrosine kinase, inducing end-plate alterations and neuromuscular transmission impairment. Several clinical subtypes are distinct on the basis of associated antibodies, age at symptom onset, thymus pathology, genetic factors, and weakness distribution. These subtypes have distinct pathogenesis that can account for different responses to treatment. Conventional therapy is based on the use of symptomatic agents, steroids, immunosuppressants and thymectomy. Of late, biologics have emerged as effective therapeutic options.Areas covered: In this review, we will discuss the management of myasthenia gravis in relation to its phenotypic and biological heterogeneity, in the light of recent advances in the disease immunopathology, new diagnostic tools, and results of clinical trialsExpert opinion: Clinical management is shaped on serological subtype, and patient age at onset, lifestyle and comorbidities, balancing therapeutic needs and safety. Although reliable biomarkers predictive of clinical and biologic outcome are still lacking, recent developments promise a more effective and safe treatment. Disease subtyping according to serological testing and immunopathology is crucial to the appropriateness of clinical management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Evoli
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Unità Operativa Complessa di Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Gregorio Spagni
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Monte
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Damato
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Yan C, Zhao R, Song J, Feng X, Xi J, Luo S, Zhong H, Zhou S, Li W, Zhao C. Comparison of anti-acetylcholine receptor profiles between Chinese cases of adult- and juvenile-onset myasthenia gravis using cell-based assays. J Neuroimmunol 2020; 349:577403. [PMID: 32992216 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Juvenile-onset myasthenia gravis (JOMG) is a unique clinical subtype in China, featured by a higher prevalence of ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG), higher seronegativity of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies, and better prognosis than that in adult-onset myasthenia gravis (AOMG). We previously identified low-affinity AChR antibodies in Chinese JOMG patients using cell-based assays (CBAs), indicating a predominantly AChR antibody-positive profile. Here, we further screened AChR antibodies in both Chinese AOMG and JOMG patients by CBAs. MATERIALS AND METHODS We recruited patients with MG who had not received prednisone or immunosuppressive therapies between June 2015 and June 2019, and divided them into AOMG and JOMG subgroups according to their ages at the time of recruitment. Clinical information and blood samples were collected. Serum AChR antibodies were detected by CBAs in HEK293T cells expressing clustered adult and fetal AChRs, as well as by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Differences in AChR antibody profiles between AOMG and JOMG subgroups were determined. RESULTS A total of 239 patients with MG were enrolled in the present study, including 121 AOMG and 118 JOMG patients. Based on ELISAs, 74.4% of AOMG (90/121) and 59.3% of JOMG (70/118) patients were anti-AChR positive (p = 0.02). However, CBAs yielded equal anti-AChR positivities (p = 0.64), as indicated by 80.2% of AOMG patients (97/121) and 77.1% of JOMG patients (91/118). Furthermore, among AOMG patients, 67.8% (82/121) were positive for both adult and fetal AChR antibodies, 5.8% (7/121) were positive for only adult AChR antibodies, and 6.6% (8/121) were positive for only fetal AChR antibodies, while these rates were 50.8% (60/118), 21.2% (25/118), and 5.1% (6/118), respectively, in JOMG cohorts (p < 0.01). Twenty-nine AOMG patients and 10 JOMG patients underwent IgG subclassification of AChR antibodies, which were all confirmed to be predominantly IgG1. CONCLUSIONS The positive rates of AChR antibodies did not differ between Chinese AOMG and JOMG patients, as revealed by CBAs. Furthermore, the screened AChR antibodies were predominantly IgG1 in both AOMG and JOMG patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chong Yan
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Jie Song
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Xuelin Feng
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Jianying Xi
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Sushan Luo
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Huahua Zhong
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Shuizhen Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Wenhui Li
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
| | - Chongbo Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China; Department of Neurology, Jing'an District Center Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Datta S, Singh S, Govindarajan R. Retrospective Analysis of Eculizumab in Patients with Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Negative Myasthenia Gravis: A Case Series. J Neuromuscul Dis 2020; 7:269-277. [PMID: 32444555 PMCID: PMC7369065 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-190464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Background: The role of the complement cascade in acetylcholine receptor antibody-negative (AChR–) myasthenia gravis (MG) is unclear. Objective: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab (terminal complement inhibitor) in patients with AChR–MG. Methods: Retrospective chart review of data from six patients treated for 12 months with eculizumab for treatment-refractory, AChR–(by radioimmunoassay) generalized MG (gMG). The eculizumab dose was 900 mg/week for 4 weeks then 1200 mg every 2 weeks. Outcome measures were Myasthenia Gravis–Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) scores, number of exacerbations, and qualitative physical assessments based on selected items of the Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis evaluation (ptosis, double vision, eye closure, duration of ability to stretch out limbs). Results: All patients were female (mean age, 50.8 years). In the 12 months before eculizumab initiation, all measures were relatively stable. After its initiation, clinically meaningful reductions (≥2 points) in total MG-ADL scores were observed before or at 5 months and were maintained to Month 12 in all patients; mean (standard deviation [SD]) scores were 11.3 (0.9) and 5.0 (0.9), respectively. There was also a reduction in the mean (SD) number of exacerbations per patient, from 2.8 (1.2) to 0.3 (0.5) in the 12 months before and after eculizumab initiation, respectively. Physical assessment ratings were improved in all patients. Adverse events were reported in four patients, but all were mild and none were treatment-related. Conclusions: This small retrospective analysis provides preliminary evidence for the efficacy of eculizumab in treatment-refractory gMG that was AChR–according to radioimmunoassay. Larger, more robust studies are warranted to evaluate this further.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sorabh Datta
- University of Missouri Health Care, Columbia, MO, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Vilquin JT, Bayer AC, Le Panse R, Berrih-Aknin S. The Muscle Is Not a Passive Target in Myasthenia Gravis. Front Neurol 2020; 10:1343. [PMID: 31920954 PMCID: PMC6930907 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.01343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare autoimmune disease mediated by pathogenic antibodies (Ab) directed against components of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), mainly the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). The etiological mechanisms are not totally elucidated, but they include a combination of genetic predisposition, triggering event(s), and hormonal components. MG disease is associated with defective immune regulation, chronic cell activation, inflammation, and the thymus is frequently abnormal. MG is characterized by muscle fatigability that is very invalidating and can be life-threatening when respiratory muscles are affected. MG is not cured, and symptomatic treatments with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and immunosuppressors are life-long medications associated with severe side effects (especially glucocorticoids). While the muscle is the ultimate target of the autoimmune attack, its place and role are not thoroughly described, and this mini-review will focus on the cascade of pathophysiologic mechanisms taking place at the NMJ and its consequences on the muscle biology, function, and regeneration in myasthenic patients, at the histological, cellular, and molecular levels. The fine structure of the synaptic cleft is damaged by the Ab binding that is coupled to focal complement-dependent lysis in the case of MG with anti-AChR antibodies. Cellular and molecular reactions taking place in the muscle involve several cell types as well as soluble factors. Finally, the regenerative capacities of the MG muscle tissue may be altered. Altogether, the studies reported in this review demonstrate that the muscle is not a passive target in MG, but interacts dynamically with its environment in several ways, activating mechanisms of compensation that limit the pathogenic mechanisms of the autoantibodies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Thomas Vilquin
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie (AIM), Paris, France
| | | | - Rozen Le Panse
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie (AIM), Paris, France
| | - Sonia Berrih-Aknin
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie (AIM), Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Yan C, Li W, Song J, Feng X, Xi J, Lu J, Zhou S, Zhao C. Cell-Based Versus Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Detection of Acetylcholine Receptor Antibodies in Chinese Juvenile Myasthenia Gravis. Pediatr Neurol 2019; 98:74-79. [PMID: 31307830 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients in China with juvenile-onset myasthenia gravis present early, with a high prevalence of purely ocular symptoms, spontaneous remission rates, and low antibody seropositivity. Antibody detection using a cell-based assay has been reported to increase the diagnostic sensitivity in adult-onset myasthenia gravis. However, this method in patients with juvenile-onset myasthenia gravis has not been investigated. METHODS Patients with juvenile-onset myasthenia gravis who had not received prednisone or immunosuppressive therapy were recruited between June 2015 and April 2018 at the Huashan Hospital. Clinical information was collected. Serum anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies were detected via cell-based assay with HEK293T cells expressing acetylcholine receptor subunits and rapsyn. Additionally, the IgG antibody subclass was identified. RESULTS Eighty-two patients with juvenile-onset myasthenia gravis were enrolled in the current study. Among them, 48 patients were anti-acetylcholine receptor positive (58.5%) and 34 were seronegative (41.5%), as assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell-based assay yielded 63 positive subjects (76.8%) and 19 seronegative subjects (23.2%). All the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-positive samples showed robust immunofluorescence in the cell-based assay, whereas 15 of 34 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-negative patients (44.1%) were found to have low-affinity acetylcholine receptor antibodies. Among all the cell-based assay-positive patients, 41 were positive for both adult and fetal acetylcholine receptor antibodies (50.0%), 18 were found positive for only adult acetylcholine receptor antibodies (21.9%), and four were found to possess only fetal acetylcholine receptor antibodies (4.9%). Fifteen antibody-positive samples underwent subclassification and were confirmed to be IgG1 subclass predominant (n = 15, including eight adult and fetal acetylcholine receptor antibody positive, five only adult acetylcholine receptor antibody positive, and two only fetal acetylcholine receptor antibody positive). There were no significant differences in clinical features among patients with different antibody profiles. CONCLUSIONS The cell-based assay showed increased sensitivity in acetylcholine receptor antibody detection in Chinese patients with juvenile-onset myasthenia gravis, and most cases of Chinese juvenile-onset myasthenia gravis are still acetylcholine receptor autoantibody mediated. Furthermore, the antibodies detected are predominately of the IgG1 subclass.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chong Yan
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenhui Li
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Song
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuelin Feng
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianying Xi
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiahong Lu
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuizhen Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chongbo Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Neurology, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Stengel H, Vural A, Brunder AM, Heinius A, Appeltshauser L, Fiebig B, Giese F, Dresel C, Papagianni A, Birklein F, Weis J, Huchtemann T, Schmidt C, Körtvelyessy P, Villmann C, Meinl E, Sommer C, Leypoldt F, Doppler K. Anti-pan-neurofascin IgG3 as a marker of fulminant autoimmune neuropathy. NEUROLOGY-NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION 2019; 6:6/5/e603. [PMID: 31454780 PMCID: PMC6705632 DOI: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000000603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Objective To identify and characterize patients with autoantibodies against different neurofascin (NF) isoforms. Methods Screening of a large cohort of patient sera for anti-NF autoantibodies by ELISA and further characterization by cell-based assays, epitope mapping, and complement binding assays. Results Two different clinical phenotypes became apparent in this study: The well-known clinical picture of subacute-onset severe sensorimotor neuropathy with tremor that is known to be associated with IgG4 autoantibodies against the paranodal isoform NF-155 was found in 2 patients. The second phenotype with a dramatic course of disease with tetraplegia and almost locked-in syndrome was associated with IgG3 autoantibodies against nodal and paranodal isoforms of NF in 3 patients. The epitope against which these autoantibodies were directed in this second phenotype was the common Ig domain found in all 3 NF isoforms. In contrast, anti–NF-155 IgG4 were directed against the NF-155–specific Fn3Fn4 domain. The description of a second phenotype of anti–NF-associated neuropathy is in line with some case reports of similar patients that were published in the last year. Conclusions Our results indicate that anti–pan-NF-associated neuropathy differs from anti–NF-155-associated neuropathy, and epitope and subclass play a major role in the pathogenesis and severity of anti–NF-associated neuropathy and should be determined to correctly classify patients, also in respect to possible differences in therapeutic response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helena Stengel
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Atay Vural
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Anna-Michelle Brunder
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Annika Heinius
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Luise Appeltshauser
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bianca Fiebig
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Florian Giese
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Christian Dresel
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aikaterini Papagianni
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Frank Birklein
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Joachim Weis
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tessa Huchtemann
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Christian Schmidt
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Peter Körtvelyessy
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Carmen Villmann
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Edgar Meinl
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Claudia Sommer
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Frank Leypoldt
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Kathrin Doppler
- From the Department of Neurology (H.S., A.M.B., L.A., B.F., A.P., C.S., K.D.), University Hospital Würzburg; Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (A.V., E.M.), Biomedical Center, University Hospitals, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried; Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (A.H., F.L.), Neuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Kiel/Lübeck; Department of Neurology (F.G.), University Hospital Halle; Department of Neurology (C.D., F.B.), University Hospital Mainz, Mainz; University Hospital Aachen (J.W.), Institute of Neuropathology, Aachen; Department of Neurology (T.H., P.K.), University Hospital Magdeburg; Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S.), Otto-von-Guericke University; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (P.K.), Magdeburg; Institute for Clinical Neurobiology (C.V.), University Hospital Würzburg; Department of Neurology (F.L.), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; and Research Center for Translational Medicine (A.V), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Paz ML, Barrantes FJ. Autoimmune Attack of the Neuromuscular Junction in Myasthenia Gravis: Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors and Other Targets. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:2186-2194. [PMID: 30916550 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) family, the archetype member of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, is ubiquitously distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, and its members are the targets for both genetic and acquired forms of neurological disorders. In the central nervous system, nAChRs contribute to the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases. In the peripheral nerve-muscle synapse, the vertebrate neuromuscular junction, "classical" myasthenia gravis (MG) and other forms of neuromuscular transmission disorders are antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases. In MG, antibodies to the nAChR bind to the postsynaptic receptors and activate the classical complement pathway culminating in the formation of the membrane attack complex, with the subsequent destruction of the postsynaptic apparatus. Divalent nAChR-antibodies also cause internalization and loss of the nAChRs. Loss of receptors by either mechanism results in the muscle weakness and fatigability that typify the clinical manifestations of the disease. Other targets for antibodies, in a minority of patients, include muscle specific kinase (MuSK) and low-density lipoprotein related protein 4 (LRP4). This brief Review analyzes the current status of muscle-type nAChR in relation to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases affecting the peripheral cholinergic synapse.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariela L. Paz
- Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, IDEHU-CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Junin 956, C1113AAD Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Francisco J. Barrantes
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), UCA-CONICET, Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1600, C1107AFF Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Evoli
- Institute of Neurology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Elisa Meacci
- Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- Institute of Thoracic Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Thurman JM, Yapa R. Complement Therapeutics in Autoimmune Disease. Front Immunol 2019; 10:672. [PMID: 31001274 PMCID: PMC6456694 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Many autoimmune diseases are characterized by generation of autoantibodies that bind to host proteins or deposit within tissues as a component of immune complexes. The autoantibodies can activate the complement system, which can mediate tissue damage and trigger systemic inflammation. Complement inhibitory drugs may, therefore, be beneficial across a large number of different autoimmune diseases. Many new anti-complement drugs that target specific activation mechanisms or downstream activation fragments are in development. Based on the shared pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases, some of these complement inhibitory drugs may provide benefit across multiple different diseases. In some antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases, however, unique features of the autoantibodies, the target antigens, or the affected tissues may make it advantageous to block individual components or pathways of the complement system. This paper reviews the evidence that complement is involved in various autoimmune diseases, as well as the studies that have examined whether or not complement inhibitors are effective for treating these diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Thurman
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Roshini Yapa
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Schelpe AS, Roose E, Joly BS, Pareyn I, Mancini I, Biganzoli M, Deckmyn H, Voorberg J, Fijnheer R, Peyvandi F, De Meyer SF, Coppo P, Veyradier A, Vanhoorelbeke K. Generation of anti-idiotypic antibodies to detect anti-spacer antibody idiotopes in acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura patients. Haematologica 2018; 104:1268-1276. [PMID: 30523052 PMCID: PMC6545854 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2018.205666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In autoantibody-mediated autoimmune diseases, autoantibody profiling allows patients to be stratified and links autoantibodies with disease severity and outcome. However, in immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) patients, stratification according to antibody profiles and their clinical relevance has not been fully explored. We aimed to develop a new type of autoantibody profiling assay for iTTP based on the use of anti-idiotypic antibodies. Anti-idiotypic antibodies against 3 anti-spacer autoantibodies were generated in mice and were used to capture the respective anti-spacer idiotopes from 151 acute iTTP plasma samples. We next deciphered these anti-spacer idiotope profiles in iTTP patients and investigated whether these limited idiotope profiles could be linked with disease severity. We developed 3 anti-idiotypic antibodies that recognized particular idiotopes in the anti-spacer autoantibodies II-1, TTP73 or I-9, that are involved in ADAMTS13 binding; 35%, 24% and 42% of patients were positive for antibodies with the II-1, TTP73 and I-9 idiotopes, respectively. Stratifying patients according to the corresponding 8 anti-spacer idiotope profiles provided a new insight into the anti-spacer II-1, TTP73 and I-9 idiotope profiles in these patients. Finally, these limited idiotope profiles showed no association with disease severity. We successfully developed 3 anti-idiotypic antibodies that allowed us to determine the profiles of the anti-spacer II-1, TTP73 and I-9 idiotopes in iTTP patients. Increasing the number of patients and/or future development of additional anti-idiotypic antibodies against other anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies might allow idiotope profiles of clinical, prognostic value to be identified.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- An-Sofie Schelpe
- Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, IRF Life Sciences, KU Leuven Campus Kulak Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Elien Roose
- Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, IRF Life Sciences, KU Leuven Campus Kulak Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Bérangère S Joly
- Service d'Hématologie Biologique, Hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, France.,EA3518, Institut Universitaire d'Hématologie Saint-Louis, Université Paris Diderot, France
| | - Inge Pareyn
- Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, IRF Life Sciences, KU Leuven Campus Kulak Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Ilaria Mancini
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Fondazione Luigi Villa, Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Biganzoli
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Fondazione Luigi Villa, Milan, Italy
| | - Hans Deckmyn
- Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, IRF Life Sciences, KU Leuven Campus Kulak Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Jan Voorberg
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Hemostasis, Sanquin-AMC Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rob Fijnheer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Meander Medical Center, Amersfoort, the Netherlands
| | - Flora Peyvandi
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Fondazione Luigi Villa, Milan, Italy
| | - Simon F De Meyer
- Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, IRF Life Sciences, KU Leuven Campus Kulak Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Paul Coppo
- Sorbonne Universités, Service d'Hématologie et Centre de Référence des Microangiopathies Thrombotiques (CNR-MAT), Hôpital Saint Antoine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, France
| | - Agnès Veyradier
- Service d'Hématologie Biologique, Hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, France.,EA3518, Institut Universitaire d'Hématologie Saint-Louis, Université Paris Diderot, France
| | - Karen Vanhoorelbeke
- Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, IRF Life Sciences, KU Leuven Campus Kulak Kortrijk, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Koneczny I, Rennspiess D, Marcuse F, Dankerlui N, Abdul Hamid M, Mané-Damas M, Maessen J, Van Schil P, Saxena A, Zisimopoulou P, Lazaridis K, Woodhall M, Karagiorgou K, Tzartos J, Tzartos S, De Baets MH, Molenaar PC, Marx A, Zur Hausen A, Losen M, Martinez-Martinez P. Characterization of the thymus in Lrp4 myasthenia gravis: Four cases. Autoimmun Rev 2018; 18:50-55. [PMID: 30414949 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2018.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction. Most patients have pathogenic autoantibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). In the last years a novel subpopulation of MG patients has been described that harbors antibodies against low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (Lrp4), another postsynaptic neuromuscular antigen. In early-onset AChR MG (EOMG), the thymus plays an important role in immunopathogenesis, and early thymectomy is beneficial. It is still unknown if the thymus plays any role in Lrp4-MG. In this pilot study, we compared thymus samples from four patients with Lrp4-MG (one pre-treated with immunosuppressive drugs), four non-MG controls and five EOMG patients (not pretreated with immunosuppressive drugs). Immunohistochemistry of the Lrp4-MG thymi revealed normal architecture, with normal numbers and distribution of B-cells, lymphoid follicles and Hassall's corpuscles. Primary CD23+ lymphoid follicles were similarly infrequent in Lrp4-MG and control thymic sections. In none of the control or Lrp4-MG thymi did we find secondary follicles with CD10+ germinal centers. These were evident in 2 of the 5 EOMG thymi, where primary lymphoid follicles were also more frequent on average, thus showing considerable heterogeneity between patients. Even if characteristic pathological thymic changes were not observed in the Lrp4 subgroup, we cannot exclude a role for the thymus in Lrp4-MG pathogenesis, since one Lrp4-MG patient went into clinical remission after thymectomy alone (at one year follow-up) and one more improved after thymectomy in combination with immunosuppressive therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inga Koneczny
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Dorit Rennspiess
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Florit Marcuse
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Nathalie Dankerlui
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Myurgia Abdul Hamid
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Marina Mané-Damas
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jos Maessen
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Paul Van Schil
- Dept. of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, Edegem (Antwerp), B- 2650, Belgium
| | - Abhishek Saxena
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Paraskevi Zisimopoulou
- Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas. Sofias Avenue, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Lazaridis
- Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas. Sofias Avenue, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Mark Woodhall
- Neurosciences Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Level 6, West Wing, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | | | - John Tzartos
- Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas. Sofias Avenue, 11521 Athens, Greece; Tzartos Neuro Diagnostics, 3 Eslin Street, 11523 Athens, Greece
| | - Socrates Tzartos
- Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas. Sofias Avenue, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Marc H De Baets
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Peter C Molenaar
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Alexander Marx
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Axel Zur Hausen
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands; GROW: School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Mario Losen
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Pilar Martinez-Martinez
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Bolz S, Totzeck A, Amann K, Stettner M, Kleinschnitz C, Hagenacker T. CIDP, myasthenia gravis, and membranous glomerulonephritis - three autoimmune disorders in one patient: a case report. BMC Neurol 2018; 18:113. [PMID: 30107838 PMCID: PMC6092826 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-018-1120-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We present a patient fulfilling the electrophysiological criteria for definite chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), antibody-positive myasthenia gravis (MG), and membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) confirmed by biopsy. To our knowledge, this is the first case of the concomitant appearance of these three autoimmune diseases in a single patient. CASE REPRESENTATION A 42-year-old Caucasian male presented with rapidly progressive gait disturbance, distal weakness of the lower extremities, ascending hypoesthesia, impaired fine motor skills, and beginning cranial nerve palsy showing dysarthrophonia, facial paralysis, and eye movement abnormalities and was diagnosed as rapid onset (atypical) CIDP. After 3 months, the patient complained of increasing physical exhaustion, reduction of his walking distance, worsening of the residual dysphagia, and dysarthria with an inability to swallow. AChR antibodies (17.0 nmol/L, RF < 0.4) and titin antibodies were positive and repetitive nerve stimulation showed an abnormal decrement matching the criteria of myasthenia gravis. Over time the patient developed severe acute-on-chronic renal failure with high-grade proteinuria resulting in generalized edema followed by secondary hyperparathyroidism and dialysis-dependent renal failure. Renal biopsy confirmed beginning anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody membranous nephropathy. CONCLUSION All three diseases are of autoimmune origin with distinctive immunopathogenetic mechanisms. The present case of CIDP, MG, and MGN occurring in one patient indicates a common underlying immune mechanism in these distinct conditions, including the involvement of autoantibodies and T cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Bolz
- Department of Neurology, Essen University Hospital, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Andreas Totzeck
- Department of Neurology, Essen University Hospital, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Amann
- Department of Nephropathology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Krankenhausstr. 8-10, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mark Stettner
- Department of Neurology, Essen University Hospital, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Christoph Kleinschnitz
- Department of Neurology, Essen University Hospital, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Tim Hagenacker
- Department of Neurology, Essen University Hospital, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147, Essen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Heterogeneity of auto-antibodies against nAChR in myasthenic serum and their pathogenic roles in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. J Neuroimmunol 2018; 320:64-75. [PMID: 29759142 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Many myasthenia gravis (MG) patients have auto-antibodies against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), and monoclonal antibodies against the main immunogenic region (MIR) of nAChR can induce experimental autoimmune MG (EAMG). We investigated whether Fab fragment of MIR antibody (Fab35) could block the pathogenicity of polyclonal antibodies. Fab35 partially inhibited nAChR downmodulation, blocked EAMG serum-induced binding of polyclonal antibodies and complement deposition in vitro. Moreover, Fab35 did not ameliorate the EAMG serum-induced EAMG phenotype in rats. These results suggested that the EAMG serum possessed several different pathogenic antibodies that might be sufficient to induce the EAMG phenotype.
Collapse
|
24
|
A patient with weakness and an abnormal chest radiograph: A case report. Afr J Thorac Crit Care Med 2018; 24:10.7196/AJTCCM.2018.v24i1.183. [PMID: 34541496 PMCID: PMC8432927 DOI: 10.7196/ajtccm.2018.v24i1.183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A 40-year-old black male presented to ICU after intubation for airway protection due to rapid onset of neck weakness and swallowing difficulty. His chest radiograph showed an unusual mediastinal opacity for which a computer tomography (CT) scan was done, confirming a mediastinal mass.
Collapse
|
25
|
Analysis of peripheral B cells and autoantibodies against the anti-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor derived from patients with myasthenia gravis using single-cell manipulation tools. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0185976. [PMID: 29040265 PMCID: PMC5645109 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), an organ-specific autoimmune disease, harbor autoantibodies that attack the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR-Abs) at the neuromuscular junction of skeletal muscles, resulting in muscle weakness. Single cell manipulation technologies coupled with genetic engineering are very powerful tools to examine T cell and B cell repertoires and the dynamics of adaptive immunity. These tools have been utilized to develop mAbs in parallel with hybridomas, phage display technologies and B-cell immortalization. By applying a single cell technology and novel high-throughput cell-based binding assays, we identified peripheral B cells that produce pathogenic nAChR-Abs in patients with MG. Although anti-nAChR antibodies produced by individual peripheral B cells generally exhibited low binding affinity for the α-subunit of the nAChR and great sequence diversity, a small fraction of these antibodies bound with high affinity to native-structured nAChRs on cell surfaces. B12L, one such Ab isolated here, competed with a rat Ab (mAb35) for binding to the human nAChR and thus considered to recognize the main immunogenic region (MIR). By evaluating the Ab in in vitro cell-based assays and an in vivo rat passive transfer model, B12L was found to act as a pathogenic Ab in rodents and presumably in humans.These findings suggest that B cells in peripheral blood may impact MG pathogenicity. Our methodology can be applied not only to validate pathogenic Abs as molecular target of MG treatment, but also to discover and analyze Ab production systems in other human diseases.
Collapse
|
26
|
Lin Y, Song C, Xu J, Yang Y, Qin H, Zhao C, Lin J, Liu R, Li Z. Irrelevance of anti-nAChR cytoplasmic loop antibody in the degree of myasthenia gravis. Int J Mol Med 2017; 40:931-939. [DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2017.3074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
|
27
|
Affiliation(s)
- Nils E Gilhus
- From the Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, and the Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital - both in Bergen, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Marshall-Gradisnik S, Johnston S, Chacko A, Nguyen T, Smith P, Staines D. Single nucleotide polymorphisms and genotypes of transient receptor potential ion channel and acetylcholine receptor genes from isolated B lymphocytes in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients. J Int Med Res 2016; 44:1381-1394. [PMID: 27834303 PMCID: PMC5536760 DOI: 10.1177/0300060516671622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The pathomechanism of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is unknown; however, a small subgroup of patients has shown muscarinic antibody positivity and reduced symptom presentation following anti-CD20 intervention. Given the important roles of calcium (Ca2+) and acetylcholine (ACh) signalling in B cell activation and potential antibody development, we aimed to identify relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genotypes in isolated B cells from CFS/ME patients. Methods A total of 11 CFS/ME patients (aged 31.82 ± 5.50 years) and 11 non-fatigued controls (aged 33.91 ± 5.06 years) were included. Flow cytometric protocols were used to determine B cell purity, followed by SNP and genotype analysis for 21 mammalian TRP ion channel genes and nine mammalian ACh receptor genes. SNP association and genotyping analysis were performed using ANOVA and PLINK analysis software. Results Seventy-eight SNPs were identified in nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor genes in the CFS/ME group, of which 35 were in mAChM3. The remaining SNPs were identified in nAChR delta (n = 12), nAChR alpha 9 (n = 5), TRPV2 (n = 7), TRPM3 (n = 4), TRPM4 (n = 1) mAChRM3 2 (n = 2), and mAChRM5 (n = 3) genes. Nine genotypes were identified from SNPs in TRPM3 (n = 1), TRPC6 (n = 1), mAChRM3 (n = 2), nAChR alpha 4 (n = 1), and nAChR beta 1 (n = 4) genes, and were located in introns and 3′ untranslated regions. Odds ratios for these specific genotypes ranged between 7.11 and 26.67 for CFS/ME compared with the non-fatigued control group. Conclusion This preliminary investigation identified a number of SNPs and genotypes in genes encoding TRP ion channels and AChRs from B cells in patients with CFS/ME. These may be involved in B cell functional changes, and suggest a role for Ca2+ dysregulation in AChR and TRP ion channel signalling in the pathomechanism of CFS/ME.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- 1 School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,2 The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD Australia
| | - Samantha Johnston
- 1 School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,2 The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD Australia
| | - Anu Chacko
- 1 School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,2 The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD Australia
| | - Thao Nguyen
- 1 School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,2 The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD Australia
| | - Peter Smith
- 2 The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD Australia
| | - Donald Staines
- 1 School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,2 The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD Australia
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Totzeck A, Mummel P, Kastrup O, Hagenacker T. Clinical Features of Neuromuscular Disorders in Patients with N-Type Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel Antibodies. Eur J Transl Myol 2016; 26:5962. [PMID: 28078065 PMCID: PMC5220212 DOI: 10.4081/ejtm.2016.5962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular junction disorders affect the pre- or postsynaptic nerve to muscle transmission due to autoimmune antibodies. Members of the group like myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton syndrome have pathophysiologically distinct characteristics. However, in practice, distinction may be difficult. We present a series of three patients with a myasthenic syndrome, dropped-head syndrome, bulbar and respiratory muscle weakness and positive testing for anti-N-type voltage-gated calcium channel antibodies. In two cases anti-acetylcholin receptor antibodies were elevated, anti-P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel antibodies were negative. All patients initially responded to pyridostigmine with a non-response in the course of the disease. While one patient recovered well after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins, 3,4-diaminopyridine, steroids and later on immunosuppression with mycophenolate mofetil, a second died after restriction of treatment due to unfavorable cancer diagnosis, the third patient declined treatment. Although new antibodies causing neuromuscular disorders were discovered, clinical distinction has not yet been made. Our patients showed features of pre- and postsynaptic myasthenic syndrome as well as severe dropped-head syndrome and bulbar and axial muscle weakness, but only anti-N-type voltage-gated calcium channel antibodies were positive. When administered, one patient benefited from 3,4-diaminopyridine. We suggest that this overlap-syndrome should be considered especially in patients with assumed seronegative myasthenia gravis and lack of improvement under standard therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Totzeck
- Department of Neurology, University Duisburg-Essen , Germany
| | - Petra Mummel
- Department of Neurology, University Duisburg-Essen , Germany
| | - Oliver Kastrup
- Department of Neurology, University Duisburg-Essen , Germany
| | - Tim Hagenacker
- Department of Neurology, University Duisburg-Essen , Germany
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Sinmaz N, Nguyen T, Tea F, Dale RC, Brilot F. Mapping autoantigen epitopes: molecular insights into autoantibody-associated disorders of the nervous system. J Neuroinflammation 2016; 13:219. [PMID: 27577085 PMCID: PMC5006540 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-016-0678-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Our knowledge of autoantibody-associated diseases of the central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS) nervous systems has expanded greatly over the recent years. A number of extracellular and intracellular autoantigens have been identified, and there is no doubt that this field will continue to expand as more autoantigens are discovered as a result of improved clinical awareness and methodological practice. In recent years, interest has shifted to uncover the target epitopes of these autoantibodies. Main body The purpose of this review is to discuss the mapping of the epitope targets of autoantibodies in CNS and PNS antibody-mediated disorders, such as N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR), leucine-rich glioma-inactivated protein 1 (Lgi1), contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Caspr2), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), aquaporin-4 (AQP4), 65 kDa glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), acetylcholine receptor (AChR), muscle-specific kinase (MuSK), voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC), neurofascin (NF), and contactin. We also address the methods used to analyze these epitopes, the relevance of their determination, and how this knowledge can inform studies on autoantibody pathogenicity. Furthermore, we discuss triggers of autoimmunity, such as molecular mimicry, ectopic antigen expression, epitope spreading, and potential mechanisms for the rising number of double autoantibody-positive patients. Conclusions Molecular insights into specificity and role of autoantibodies will likely improve diagnosis and treatment of CNS and PNS neuroimmune diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nese Sinmaz
- Brain Autoimmunity Group, Institute for Neuroscience and Muscle Research, The Kids Research Institute at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, University of Sydney, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Tina Nguyen
- Brain Autoimmunity Group, Institute for Neuroscience and Muscle Research, The Kids Research Institute at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, University of Sydney, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Fiona Tea
- Brain Autoimmunity Group, Institute for Neuroscience and Muscle Research, The Kids Research Institute at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, University of Sydney, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Russell C Dale
- Brain Autoimmunity Group, Institute for Neuroscience and Muscle Research, The Kids Research Institute at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, University of Sydney, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.,Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Fabienne Brilot
- Brain Autoimmunity Group, Institute for Neuroscience and Muscle Research, The Kids Research Institute at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, University of Sydney, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia. .,Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Astilbin ameliorates experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by decreased Th17 cytokines and up-regulated T regulatory cells. J Neuroimmunol 2016; 298:138-45. [PMID: 27609287 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2016.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2016] [Revised: 07/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Astilbin, a major bioactive compound extracted from Rhizoma smilacis glabrae (RSG), has been reported to possess immunosuppressive properties. Our study first evaluated the effect of astilbin on experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) in Lewis rats. The results showed that astilbin could attenuate the severity of EAMG by decreasing antigen-specific autoantibodies with up-regulation of regulatory T cells and down-regulation of Th17 cells. In addition to, astilbin also reduced the efficiency of the antigen presenting cells on which the expression of MHC class II decreased. These results suggest that astilbin might be a candidate drug for immunoregulation of EAMG, and provide us new treatment ideas for human myasthenia gravis (MG).
Collapse
|
32
|
Myasthenia gravis — autoantibody characteristics and their implications for therapy. Nat Rev Neurol 2016; 12:259-68. [DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2016.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
|
33
|
Cao Y, Amezquita RA, Kleinstein SH, Stathopoulos P, Nowak RJ, O'Connor KC. Autoreactive T Cells from Patients with Myasthenia Gravis Are Characterized by Elevated IL-17, IFN-γ, and GM-CSF and Diminished IL-10 Production. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 196:2075-84. [PMID: 26826242 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1501339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 12/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a prototypical autoimmune disease that is among the few for which the target Ag and the pathogenic autoantibodies are clearly defined. The pathology of the disease is affected by autoantibodies directed toward the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Mature, Ag-experienced B cells rely on the action of Th cells to produce these pathogenic Abs. The phenotype of the MG Ag-reactive T cell compartment is not well defined; thus, we sought to determine whether such cells exhibit both a proinflammatory and a pathogenic phenotype. A novel T cell library assay that affords multiparameter interrogation of rare Ag-reactive CD4(+) T cells was applied. Proliferation and cytokine production in response to both AChR and control Ags were measured from 3120 T cell libraries derived from 11 MG patients and paired healthy control subjects. The frequency of CCR6(+) memory T cells from MG patients proliferating in response to AChR-derived peptides was significantly higher than that of healthy control subjects. Production of both IFN-γ and IL-17, in response to AChR, was also restricted to the CCR6(+) memory T cell compartment in the MG cohort, indicating a proinflammatory phenotype. These T cells also included an elevated expression of GM-CSF and absence of IL-10 expression, indicating a proinflammatory and pathogenic phenotype. This component of the autoimmune response in MG is of particular importance when considering the durability of MG treatment strategies that eliminate B cells, because the autoreactive T cells could renew autoimmunity in the reconstituted B cell compartment with ensuing clinical manifestations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yonghao Cao
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511; Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511;
| | - Robert A Amezquita
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Steven H Kleinstein
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511; Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511; and Interdepartmental Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511
| | | | - Richard J Nowak
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Kevin C O'Connor
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511;
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Evoli A, Iorio R, Bartoccioni E. Overcoming challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of myasthenia gravis. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2015; 12:157-68. [PMID: 26675896 DOI: 10.1586/1744666x.2016.1110487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the discovery of new autoantigens and the use of sensitive assays have expanded the clinical spectrum of myasthenia gravis (MG). In particular, antibodies binding to clustered acetylcholine receptors and to the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 have not only bridged a significant gap in diagnosis but also have relevant clinical implications. MG management includes different therapeutic options, from symptomatic agents as the only therapy in mildly affected cases to combined long-term immunosuppression and thymectomy in patients with severe disabling disease. MG biological diversity can influence the response to therapies and should be taken into account when planning treatment. Biologic agents are promising, though their use is currently limited to patients with refractory disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Evoli
- a Institute of Neurology , Catholic University , Roma , Italy
| | - Raffaele Iorio
- a Institute of Neurology , Catholic University , Roma , Italy.,b Don Gnocchi ONLUS Foundation , Milan , Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Rodríguez-Fernández JL, de Lacoba MG. Plasma membrane-associated superstructure: Have we overlooked a new type of organelle in eukaryotic cells? J Theor Biol 2015; 380:346-58. [PMID: 26066286 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Revised: 05/22/2015] [Accepted: 05/25/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
A variety of intriguing plasma membrane-associated regions, including focal adhesions, adherens junctions, tight junctions, immunological synapses, neuromuscular junctions and the primary cilia, among many others, have been described in eukaryotic cells. Emphasizing their importance, alteration in their molecular structures induces or correlates with different pathologies. These regions display surface proteins connected to intracellular molecules, including cytoskeletal component, which maintain their cytoarchitecture, and signalling proteins, which regulate their organization and functions. Based on the molecular similarities and other common features observed, we suggest that, despite differences in external appearances, all these regions are just the same superstructure that appears in different locations and cells. We hypothesize that this superstructure represents an overlooked new type of organelle that we call plasma membrane-associated superstructure (PMAS). Therefore, we suggest that eukaryotic cells include classical organelles (e.g. mitochondria, Golgi and others) and also PMAS. We speculate that this new type of organelle might be an innovation associated to the emergence of eukaryotes. Finally we discuss the implications of the hypothesis proposed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José Luis Rodríguez-Fernández
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | - Mario García de Lacoba
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, Madrid 28040, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Follicular Helper CD4+ T Cells in Human Neuroautoimmune Diseases and Their Animal Models. Mediators Inflamm 2015; 2015:638968. [PMID: 26300592 PMCID: PMC4537760 DOI: 10.1155/2015/638968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Follicular helper CD4+ T (TFH) cells play a fundamental role in humoral immunity deriving from their ability to provide help for germinal center (GC) formation, B cell differentiation into plasma cells and memory cells, and antibody production in secondary lymphoid tissues. TFH cells can be identified by a combination of markers, including the chemokine receptor CXCR5, costimulatory molecules ICOS and PD-1, transcription repressor Bcl-6, and cytokine IL-21. It is difficult and impossible to get access to secondary lymphoid tissues in humans, so studies are usually performed with human peripheral blood samples as circulating counterparts of tissue TFH cells. A balance of TFH cell generation and function is critical for protective antibody response, whereas overactivation of TFH cells or overexpression of TFH-associated molecules may result in autoimmune diseases. Emerging data have shown that TFH cells and TFH-associated molecules may be involved in the pathogenesis of neuroautoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica (NMO)/neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), and myasthenia gravis (MG). This review summarizes the features of TFH cells, including their development, function, and roles as well as TFH-associated molecules in neuroautoimmune diseases and their animal models.
Collapse
|
37
|
Evoli A, Iorio R. Characteristics of myasthenia gravis with antibodies to muscle-specific kinase and low-density lipoprotein-related receptor protein 4. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/cen3.12173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Evoli
- Institute of Neurology; Catholic University; Roma Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Kong S, Thiruppathi M, Qiu Q, Lin Z, Dong H, Chini EN, Prabhakar BS, Fang D. DBC1 is a suppressor of B cell activation by negatively regulating alternative NF-κB transcriptional activity. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:5515-24. [PMID: 25362179 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1401798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
CD40 and BAFFR signaling play important roles in B cell proliferation and Ig production. In this study, we found that B cells from mice with deletion of Dbc1 gene (Dbc1(-/-)) show elevated proliferation, and IgG1 and IgA production upon in vitro CD40 and BAFF, but not BCR and LPS stimulation, indicating that DBC1 inhibits CD40/BAFF-mediated B cell activation in a cell-intrinsic manner. Microarray analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments reveal that DBC1 inhibits B cell function by selectively suppressing the transcriptional activity of alternative NF-κB members RelB and p52 upon CD40 stimulation. As a result, when immunized with nitrophenylated-keyhole limpet hemocyanin, Dbc1(-/-) mice produce significantly increased levels of germinal center B cells, plasma cells, and Ag-specific Ig. Finally, loss of DBC1 in mice leads to higher susceptibility to experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. Our study identifies DBC1 as a novel regulator of B cell activation by suppressing the alternative NF-κB pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sinyi Kong
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Muthusamy Thiruppathi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612
| | - Quan Qiu
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Zhenghong Lin
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Hongxin Dong
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611; and
| | - Eduardo N Chini
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Department of Anesthesiology and Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905
| | - Bellur S Prabhakar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612
| | - Deyu Fang
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611;
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Darabid H, Perez-Gonzalez AP, Robitaille R. Neuromuscular synaptogenesis: coordinating partners with multiple functions. Nat Rev Neurosci 2014; 15:630-1. [DOI: 10.1038/nrn3821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|