Modulation of the anti‐acetylcholine receptor response and experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by recombinant fragments of the acetylcholine receptor

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disorder of man caused by a humoral response to the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Most of the antibodies in MG and in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) are directed to the extracellular portion of the AChR α subunit, and within it, primarily to the main immunogenic region (MIR). We have cloned and expressed recombinant fragments, corresponding to the entire extracellular domain of the AChR α subunit (Hα1 – 210), and to portions of it that encompass either the MIR (Hα1 – 121) or the ligand binding site of AChR (Hα122 – 210), and studied their ability to interfere with the immunopathological anti‐AChR response in vitro and in vivo. All fragments were expressed as fusion proteins with glutathione S‐transferase. Fragments Hα1 – 121 and Hα1 – 210 protected AChR in TE671 cells against accelerated degradation induced by the anti‐MIR monoclonal antibody (mAb)198 in a dose‐dependent manner. Moreover, these fragments had a similar effect on the antigenic modulation of AChR by other anti‐MIR mAb and by polyclonal rat anti‐AChR antibodies. Fragments Hα1 – 121 and Hα1 – 210 were also able to modulate in vivo muscle AChR loss and development of clinical symptoms of EAMG, passively transferred to rats by mAb 198. Fragment Hα122 – 210 did not have such a protective activity. Our results suggest that the appropriate recombinant fragments of the human AChR may be employed in the future for antigen‐specific therapy of myasthenia.