Comprehensive overview of autoantibody isotype and subclass distribution.

The presence of autoreactive antibodies is a hallmark of many autoimmune diseases. The effector functions of (auto)antibodies are determined by their constant domain, which defines the antibody isotype and subclass. The most prevalent isotype in serum is IgG, which is often the only isotype used in diagnostic testing.

The effect of immunosuppression or thymectomy on the response to tetanus revaccination in myasthenia gravis.

Objective: To determine the effect of tetanus toxoid (TT) revaccination on circulating B-, T- and NK-cell compartments in myasthenia gravis (MG) patients.

Methods: Lymphocyte (sub)populations and differentiation stages were assessed by flow cytometry in 50 TT revaccinated MG patients. TT-specific proliferative responses were explored in PBMC cultures.

A bioassay for neuromuscular junction-restricted complement activation by myasthenia gravis acetylcholine receptor antibodies.

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder hallmarked by fluctuating fatigable muscle weakness. Most patients have autoantibodies against acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). These are thought to have three possible pathogenic mode-of-actions: 1) cross-linking and endocytosis of AChRs, 2) direct block of AChRs and 3) complement activation.

Sheathless CE-MS as a tool for monitoring exchange efficiency and stability of bispecific antibodies.

Bispecific monoclonal antibodies (BsAbs) are receiving great attention due to their extensive benefits as biopharmaceuticals and their involvement in IgG4 mediated autoimmune diseases. While the production of BsAbs is getting more accessible, their analytical characterization remains challenging. We explored the potential of sheathless CE-MS for monitoring exchange efficiency and stability of in-house produced bispecific antibodies.

Neuromuscular synapse electrophysiology in myasthenia gravis animal models.

The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) forms the synaptic connection between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle fiber. In order to achieve a sustained muscle contraction, this synapse has to reliably transmit motor neuronal action potentials onto the muscle fiber. To guarantee successful transmission even during intense activation of the NMJ, a safety factor of neuromuscular transmission exists.

Investigations of caspr2, an autoantigen of encephalitis and neuromyotonia.

Objective: To report clinical and immunological investigations of contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Caspr2), an autoantigen of encephalitis and peripheral nerve hyperexcitability (PNH) previously attributed to voltage-gated potassium channels (VGKC).

Methods: Clinical analysis was performed on patients with encephalitis, PNH, or both. Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry were used to identify the antigen and to develop an assay with Caspr2-expressing cells.

Investigation of LGI1 as the antigen in limbic encephalitis previously attributed to potassium channels: a case series.

Background: Voltage-gated potassium channels are thought to be the target of antibodies associated with limbic encephalitis. However, antibody testing using cells expressing voltage-gated potassium channels is negative; hence, we aimed to identify the real autoantigen associated with limbic encephalitis.

Methods: We analysed sera and CSF of 57 patients with limbic encephalitis and antibodies attributed to voltage-gated potassium channels and 148 control individuals who had other disorders with or without antibodies against voltage-gated potassium channels.