V beta-specific immunotoxin selectively kills acetylcholine receptor-reactive T lymphocytes from mice with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis.

Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with purified acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is known to induce a T cell-dependent antibody response that results in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). Since past observations link V beta 6+ T cells with a prominent AChR epitope specificity, a V beta 6-specific immunotoxin (VIT6) was tested in vitro for its ability to selectively kill monoclonal and polyclonal T cells that demonstrate reactivity against AChR. Results described below clearly demonstrate the ability to selectively kill AChR-reactive T cells based on their expression of a particular V beta-associated antigen receptor.