Preferential expression of AChR epsilon-subunit in thymomas from patients with myasthenia gravis.

The role of antigen expression by thymomas in myasthenia gravis (MG) is not clear. Previous reports of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) mRNA expression by the highly sensitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) produced varying results. To try to clarify this issue, we first used...

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Asıl Yazarlar: Maclennan, C, Vincent, A, Marx, A, Willcox, N, Gilhus, N, Newsom-Davis, J, Beeson, D
Materyal Türü: Journal article
Dil:English
Baskı/Yayın Bilgisi: 2008
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author Maclennan, C
Vincent, A
Marx, A
Willcox, N
Gilhus, N
Newsom-Davis, J
Beeson, D
author_facet Maclennan, C
Vincent, A
Marx, A
Willcox, N
Gilhus, N
Newsom-Davis, J
Beeson, D
author_sort Maclennan, C
collection OXFORD
description The role of antigen expression by thymomas in myasthenia gravis (MG) is not clear. Previous reports of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) mRNA expression by the highly sensitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) produced varying results. To try to clarify this issue, we first used RT-PCR but then turned to the more accurate and quantitative RNase protection assays (RPA) to assess AChR subunit mRNA expression in thymomas from 25 patients (22 with MG). By RT-PCR, all five AChR subunits could be detected in many thymomas. However, by RPA, the mRNA for the adult-specific AChR epsilon-subunit was found in 13/25 (52%) thymomas, but not mRNA for the other subunits. AChR epsilon-subunit was more frequently detected in thymomas of A or AB histology (WHO classification) than those with B1-B3 histology. Overall, 6/6 with thymomas of A or AB histology were positive compared with only 8/19 with B histology (p=0.02). Autoantibodies in the two patients with the highest levels of epsilon-subunit mRNA bound better to adult (alpha(2)betadeltaepsilon) AChR than to fetal (alpha(2)betadeltagamma) AChR, whereas the other sera bound better to fetal AChR. The greater abundance of mRNA for AChR epsilon-subunit than for other subunits suggests that the AChR epsilon-subunit may play a distinctive role in autosensitization in MG-associated thymomas, particularly those of type A or AB.
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spelling oxford-uuid:dba70d16-d806-4fd9-b83e-6e4536956cab2022-03-27T09:12:10ZPreferential expression of AChR epsilon-subunit in thymomas from patients with myasthenia gravis.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:dba70d16-d806-4fd9-b83e-6e4536956cabEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2008Maclennan, CVincent, AMarx, AWillcox, NGilhus, NNewsom-Davis, JBeeson, DThe role of antigen expression by thymomas in myasthenia gravis (MG) is not clear. Previous reports of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) mRNA expression by the highly sensitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) produced varying results. To try to clarify this issue, we first used RT-PCR but then turned to the more accurate and quantitative RNase protection assays (RPA) to assess AChR subunit mRNA expression in thymomas from 25 patients (22 with MG). By RT-PCR, all five AChR subunits could be detected in many thymomas. However, by RPA, the mRNA for the adult-specific AChR epsilon-subunit was found in 13/25 (52%) thymomas, but not mRNA for the other subunits. AChR epsilon-subunit was more frequently detected in thymomas of A or AB histology (WHO classification) than those with B1-B3 histology. Overall, 6/6 with thymomas of A or AB histology were positive compared with only 8/19 with B histology (p=0.02). Autoantibodies in the two patients with the highest levels of epsilon-subunit mRNA bound better to adult (alpha(2)betadeltaepsilon) AChR than to fetal (alpha(2)betadeltagamma) AChR, whereas the other sera bound better to fetal AChR. The greater abundance of mRNA for AChR epsilon-subunit than for other subunits suggests that the AChR epsilon-subunit may play a distinctive role in autosensitization in MG-associated thymomas, particularly those of type A or AB.
spellingShingle Maclennan, C
Vincent, A
Marx, A
Willcox, N
Gilhus, N
Newsom-Davis, J
Beeson, D
Preferential expression of AChR epsilon-subunit in thymomas from patients with myasthenia gravis.
title Preferential expression of AChR epsilon-subunit in thymomas from patients with myasthenia gravis.
title_full Preferential expression of AChR epsilon-subunit in thymomas from patients with myasthenia gravis.
title_fullStr Preferential expression of AChR epsilon-subunit in thymomas from patients with myasthenia gravis.
title_full_unstemmed Preferential expression of AChR epsilon-subunit in thymomas from patients with myasthenia gravis.
title_short Preferential expression of AChR epsilon-subunit in thymomas from patients with myasthenia gravis.
title_sort preferential expression of achr epsilon subunit in thymomas from patients with myasthenia gravis
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