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Ryanodine receptor autoantibodies in myasthenia gravis patients with a thymoma
Author(s) -
Mygland Åse,
Tysnes OleBjørn,
Aarli Johan A.,
Gilhus Nils Erik,
Matre Roald,
Volpe Pompeo
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410320419
Subject(s) - myasthenia gravis , thymoma , ryanodine receptor , autoantibody , medicine , ryanodine receptor 2 , endoplasmic reticulum , antibody , endocrinology , immunology , receptor , chemistry , biochemistry
Sera from patients with myasthenia gravis were examined by Western blot for the presence of antibodies to proteins of the sarcoplasmic reticulum from rabbit skeletal muscle. Fourteen of 30 patients with myasthenia gravis and a thymoma had IgG autoantibodies to the calcium release channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (the ryanodine receptor), which plays a crucial role in the mechanism of excitation‐contraction coupling in striated muscle. Ryanodine receptor autoantibodies were not detected in any of the 45 sera from patients with myasthenia gravis without a thymoma. Ryanodine receptor autoantibodies may have pathogenetic relevance in thymoma‐associated myasthenia gravis.