Increased levels of acetylcholine receptor α-subunit mRNA in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis

Orna Asher, Drorit Neumann, Sara Fuchs*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

To gain insight into the regulatory mechanisms underlying the blockade and loss of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) in myasthenia, we have followed AChR α-subunit mRNA levels in leg muscles of myasthenic and normal rabbits and rats. Northern blots of RNA preparations from normal and myasthenic animals were hybridized with a mouse AChR α-subunit cDNA probe. Our experiments indicate a specific increase (4-7-fold) in the levels of α-subunit mRNA in animals with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG), in comparison with control animals. Actin mRNA levels were essentially unchanged. Our results thus suggest that EAMG is accompanied by an increased level of AChR gene transcription.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)277-281
Number of pages5
JournalFEBS Letters
Volume233
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 20 Jun 1988
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America
Muscular Dystrophy Association

    Keywords

    • Acetylcholine receptor
    • Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis
    • mRNA

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