Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies have been shown to form against the nicotinic acetylcholine nicotinic postsynaptic receptors located at the neuromuscular junction.＂Warming yang and inv...Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies have been shown to form against the nicotinic acetylcholine nicotinic postsynaptic receptors located at the neuromuscular junction.＂Warming yang and invigorating qi＂ acupuncture treatment has been shown to reduce serum inflammatory cytokine expression and increase transforming growth factor beta expression in rats with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis.However,few studies have addressed the effects of this type of acupuncture on the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction.Here,we used confocal laser scanning microscopy to examine the area and density of immunoreactivity for an antibody to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction in the phrenic nerve of rats with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis following ＂warming yang and invigorating qi＂ acupuncture therapy.Needles were inserted at acupressure points Shousanli（LI10）,Zusanli（ST36）,Pishu（BL20）,and Shenshu（BL23） once daily for 7 consecutive days.The treatment was repeated after 1 day of rest.We found that area and the integrated optical density of the immunoreactivity for the acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction of the phrenic nerve was significantly increased following acupuncture treatment.This outcome of the acupuncture therapy was similar to that of the cholinesterase inhibitor pyridostigmine bromide.These findings suggest that ＂warming yang and invigorating qi＂ acupuncture treatment increases acetylcholine receptor expression at the neuromuscular junction in a rat model of autoimmune myasthenia gravis.展开更多
Myasthenia gravis(MG) is a prototypical antibody-mediated neurological autoimmune disease with the involvement of humoral immune responses in its pathogenesis. T follicular helper(Tfh) cells have been implicated in ma...Myasthenia gravis(MG) is a prototypical antibody-mediated neurological autoimmune disease with the involvement of humoral immune responses in its pathogenesis. T follicular helper(Tfh) cells have been implicated in many autoimmune diseases. However, whether and how Tfh cells are involved in MG remain unclear.Here, we established and studied a widely-used and approved animal model of human MG, the rat model with acetylcholine receptor alpha(AChRa) subunit(RAChR97–116)-induced experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis(EAMG). This model presented mild bodyweight loss 10 days after the first immunization(representing the early stage of disease) and more obvious clinical manifestations and body-weight loss 7 days after the second immunization(representing the late stage of disease). AChR-specific pre-Tfh cells and mature Tfh cells were detected in these two stages, respectively. In cocultures of Tfh cells and B cells, the number of IgG2 bsecreting B cells and the level of anti-AChR antibodies in the supernatant were higher in the cultures containing EAMG-derived Tfh cells. In immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assays, a substantial number of CD4^+/Bcl-6^+ T cells and a greater number of larger germinal centers were observed in lymph node tissues resected from EAMG rats. Based on these results, wehypothesize that an AChR-specific Tfh cell-mediated humoral immune response contributes to the development of EAMG.展开更多
Objective To investigate the effects of Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix （PCRR） and its ingredient resveratrol （Res） on experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis （EAMG）. Methods EAMG was induced in Lewis rats...Objective To investigate the effects of Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix （PCRR） and its ingredient resveratrol （Res） on experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis （EAMG）. Methods EAMG was induced in Lewis rats by the immunization of a synthetic peptide corresponding to region 97-116 of the rat acetylcholine receptor （AChR） α subunit （R97-116）. EAMG rats were randomly divided into PCRR group, Res group, and control （C） group, and were ig administered respectively with PCRR （2 g/kg）, Res （20 mg/kg）, and DMSO （0.4 mL/kg） every day from day 5 after immunization to day 42. Clinical evaluation, lymphocyte proliferation, cytokines, and anti-97-116 antibodies were performed for examination of their therapeutic effects. Results Treatments with PCRR and Res significantly ameliorated clinical symptoms, down-regulated TNF-α and up-regulated IL-10 in serum and culture supernatants of lymphocytes stimulated with R97-116, and decreased levels of anti-R97-116 IgG1 and IgG2a in serum compared with C group. Unexpectedly, PCRR but not Res inhibited lymphocyte proliferation compared with C group. Conclusion PCRR and Res ameliorating EAMG is associated with suppressing immune response, and indicates a therapeutic potential for EAMG and even human myasthenia gravis （MG）. Res may be the main effective ingredient from PCRR ameliorating EAMG, but further experiments are necessary.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81173344
文摘Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies have been shown to form against the nicotinic acetylcholine nicotinic postsynaptic receptors located at the neuromuscular junction.＂Warming yang and invigorating qi＂ acupuncture treatment has been shown to reduce serum inflammatory cytokine expression and increase transforming growth factor beta expression in rats with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis.However,few studies have addressed the effects of this type of acupuncture on the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction.Here,we used confocal laser scanning microscopy to examine the area and density of immunoreactivity for an antibody to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction in the phrenic nerve of rats with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis following ＂warming yang and invigorating qi＂ acupuncture therapy.Needles were inserted at acupressure points Shousanli（LI10）,Zusanli（ST36）,Pishu（BL20）,and Shenshu（BL23） once daily for 7 consecutive days.The treatment was repeated after 1 day of rest.We found that area and the integrated optical density of the immunoreactivity for the acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction of the phrenic nerve was significantly increased following acupuncture treatment.This outcome of the acupuncture therapy was similar to that of the cholinesterase inhibitor pyridostigmine bromide.These findings suggest that ＂warming yang and invigorating qi＂ acupuncture treatment increases acetylcholine receptor expression at the neuromuscular junction in a rat model of autoimmune myasthenia gravis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81000536,81471227,31371079,31671112 and 81430035)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(20100471094)+3 种基金the Returned Overseas Scholars Foundation of the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province,China(LC2015029,QC2015022)the Science and Technology Research Project of the Education Department of Heilongjiang Province,China(12541z008)the Heilongjiang Province Postdoctoral Science Foundation(LBH-Q131111)the Open Topic of Key Laboratory of Neurobiology,General Colleges and Universities in Heilongjiang Province,China(2013HLJKLNT-05)
文摘Myasthenia gravis(MG) is a prototypical antibody-mediated neurological autoimmune disease with the involvement of humoral immune responses in its pathogenesis. T follicular helper(Tfh) cells have been implicated in many autoimmune diseases. However, whether and how Tfh cells are involved in MG remain unclear.Here, we established and studied a widely-used and approved animal model of human MG, the rat model with acetylcholine receptor alpha(AChRa) subunit(RAChR97–116)-induced experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis(EAMG). This model presented mild bodyweight loss 10 days after the first immunization(representing the early stage of disease) and more obvious clinical manifestations and body-weight loss 7 days after the second immunization(representing the late stage of disease). AChR-specific pre-Tfh cells and mature Tfh cells were detected in these two stages, respectively. In cocultures of Tfh cells and B cells, the number of IgG2 bsecreting B cells and the level of anti-AChR antibodies in the supernatant were higher in the cultures containing EAMG-derived Tfh cells. In immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assays, a substantial number of CD4^+/Bcl-6^+ T cells and a greater number of larger germinal centers were observed in lymph node tissues resected from EAMG rats. Based on these results, wehypothesize that an AChR-specific Tfh cell-mediated humoral immune response contributes to the development of EAMG.
文摘Objective To investigate the effects of Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix （PCRR） and its ingredient resveratrol （Res） on experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis （EAMG）. Methods EAMG was induced in Lewis rats by the immunization of a synthetic peptide corresponding to region 97-116 of the rat acetylcholine receptor （AChR） α subunit （R97-116）. EAMG rats were randomly divided into PCRR group, Res group, and control （C） group, and were ig administered respectively with PCRR （2 g/kg）, Res （20 mg/kg）, and DMSO （0.4 mL/kg） every day from day 5 after immunization to day 42. Clinical evaluation, lymphocyte proliferation, cytokines, and anti-97-116 antibodies were performed for examination of their therapeutic effects. Results Treatments with PCRR and Res significantly ameliorated clinical symptoms, down-regulated TNF-α and up-regulated IL-10 in serum and culture supernatants of lymphocytes stimulated with R97-116, and decreased levels of anti-R97-116 IgG1 and IgG2a in serum compared with C group. Unexpectedly, PCRR but not Res inhibited lymphocyte proliferation compared with C group. Conclusion PCRR and Res ameliorating EAMG is associated with suppressing immune response, and indicates a therapeutic potential for EAMG and even human myasthenia gravis （MG）. Res may be the main effective ingredient from PCRR ameliorating EAMG, but further experiments are necessary.
