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Serological Immunoglobulin-Free Light Chain Profile in Myasthenia Gravis Patients
Joint Authors
Evoli, Amelia
Basile, Umberto
Marino, Mariapaola
Napodano, Cecilia
Pocino, Krizia
Alboini, Paolo Emilio
Gulli, Francesca
Provenzano, Carlo
Bartoccioni, Emanuela
Source
Journal of Immunology Research
Issue
Vol. 2018, Issue 2018 (31 Dec. 2018), pp.1-8, 8 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2018-03-25
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
8
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Background.
Serological levels of free immunoglobulin light chains (FLCs), produced in excess of heavy chains during synthesis of immunoglobulins by plasma cells, can be considered a direct marker of B cell activity in different systemic inflammatory-autoimmune conditions and may represent a useful predictor of rituximab (RTX) therapeutic efficacy, as reported for rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction with antibodies (abs) targeting the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) or the muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK), inducing muscle weakness and excessive fatigability.
As MG course may be remarkably variable, we evaluated the possible use of FLCs as biomarkers of disease activity.
Subjects and Methods.
We assessed FLC levels in 34 sera from 17 AChR-MG and from 13 MuSK-MG patients, in comparison with 20 sera from patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases and 18 from healthy blood donors, along with titers of specific auto-abs and IgG subclass distribution.
Results.
We found a statistically significant increase in free κ chains in both AChR- and MuSK-MG patients, while free λ chain levels were increased only in AChR-MG.
We also observed a significant reduction of both free κ and λ chains in 1/4 MuSK-MG patients along with specific abs titer, two months after RTX treatment.
Conclusions.
From our data, FLCs appear to be a sensitive marker of B cell activation in MG.
Further investigations are necessary to exploit their potential as reliable biomarkers of disease activity.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Basile, Umberto& Marino, Mariapaola& Napodano, Cecilia& Pocino, Krizia& Alboini, Paolo Emilio& Gulli, Francesca…[et al.]. 2018. Serological Immunoglobulin-Free Light Chain Profile in Myasthenia Gravis Patients. Journal of Immunology Research،Vol. 2018, no. 2018, pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1193349
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Basile, Umberto…[et al.]. Serological Immunoglobulin-Free Light Chain Profile in Myasthenia Gravis Patients. Journal of Immunology Research No. 2018 (2018), pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1193349
American Medical Association (AMA)
Basile, Umberto& Marino, Mariapaola& Napodano, Cecilia& Pocino, Krizia& Alboini, Paolo Emilio& Gulli, Francesca…[et al.]. Serological Immunoglobulin-Free Light Chain Profile in Myasthenia Gravis Patients. Journal of Immunology Research. 2018. Vol. 2018, no. 2018, pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1193349
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1193349