Immune response gene control of lymphocyte proliferation induced by acetylcholine receptor-specific helper factor derived from lymphocytes of myasthenic mice
Christadoss, P.; Lindstrom, J.M.; Talal, N.; Duvic, C.R.; Kalantri, A.; Shenoy, M.
Journal of Immunology 137(6): 1845-1849
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 2943805 Document Number: 280185
The role of lymphokines secreted by acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-reactive lymphocytes in the regulation of an autoimmune response to AChR has not been studied in the human or murine model of myasthenia gravis. We investigated whether AChR-immune lymphocytes derived from mice with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) can produce an AChR-specific, genetically controlled soluble factor with biologic activity. AChR-reactive lymphocytes of mice with EAMG secreted an AChR-specific helper factor in vitro, which induced proliferation of AChR-immune but not Mycobacterium tuberculosis-immune lymphocytes. Recombinant, I-A mutant, and monoclonal anti-I-A antibody analyses suggest that AChR-specific helper factor-induced lymphocyte proliferation is controlled by an immune response gene at the I-A subregion of the murine major histocompatibility complex, and is mediated by the I-A molecule.