Abstract
We used cultured myotubes to demonstrate complement-dependent lysis of muscle membranes by serum from patients with myasthenia gravis. Lysis was monitored by light microscopy and release of incorporated [86Rb]. In the presence of guinea pig complement (GPC), 18 of 37 heat-inactivated myasthenic sera (49%), but none of 16 controls, caused morphologically detectable myotube lysis. Ten of 19 myasthenic sera (53%) increased [86Rb]-release compared with 10 controls. Immunoglobulin fractions retained the complement-dependent lytic activity. Inactivation of GPC prevented the lysis. [86Rb]-release appeared to correlate with clinical severity. The complement-dependent lysis resulted in a decrease in the number of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) in myotubes, and AChR-immunoglobulin complexes were found in the medium of lysed cultures. The data suggest that cultured myotubes can be used to document complement-dependent antibody reactions in the pathogenesis of myasthenia.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1748-1753 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Neurology |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1985 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology