Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease in which 90% of patients have autoantibodies against the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR), while autoantibodies to muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) have been detected in half (5%) of the remaining 10%. Recently, the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4), identified as the agrin receptor, has been recognized as a third autoimmune target in a significant portion of the double sero-negative (dSN) myasthenic individuals, with variable frequency depending on different methods and origin countries of the tested population. There is also convincing experimental evidence that anti-LRP4 autoantibodies may cause MG.
Marino, M., Scuderi, F., Samengo, D. M., Saltelli, G., Maiuri, M., Shen, C., Mei, L., Sabatelli, M., Pani, G., Antonini, G., Evoli Stampanoni-B, A., Bartoccioni, E., Flow Cytofluorimetric Analysis of Anti-LRP4 (LDL Receptor-Related Protein 4) Autoantibodies in Italian Patients with Myasthenia Gravis, <<PLOS ONE>>, 2015; 10 (8): e0135378-e0135378. [doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0135378] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/70194]
Flow Cytofluorimetric Analysis of Anti-LRP4 (LDL Receptor-Related Protein 4) Autoantibodies in Italian Patients with Myasthenia Gravis
Marino, Mariapaola;Scuderi, Flavia;Samengo, Daniela Maria;Sabatelli, Mario;Pani, Giovambattista;Evoli Stampanoni-B, Amelia;Bartoccioni, Emanuela
2015
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease in which 90% of patients have autoantibodies against the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR), while autoantibodies to muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) have been detected in half (5%) of the remaining 10%. Recently, the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4), identified as the agrin receptor, has been recognized as a third autoimmune target in a significant portion of the double sero-negative (dSN) myasthenic individuals, with variable frequency depending on different methods and origin countries of the tested population. There is also convincing experimental evidence that anti-LRP4 autoantibodies may cause MG.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.