ACHR ANTIBODY

The link between a humoral factor and neuromuscular transmission disorders in myasthenia gravis (MG) gained validation with the discovery of anti-AChR antibodies in a significant majority (85-90%) of generalized MG cases and in 75% of those with ocular myasthenia. Remarkably, plasma exchange unveiled a direct correlation between serum anti-AChR levels and muscle strength, showing a consistent decline in the antibody levels among patients responding positively to treatments like thymectomy and immunosuppressive drugs. The diverse nature of this antibody contributes to muscle AChR loss through multiple mechanisms, primarily synthesized in limited amounts within the thymus. Studies involving anti-AChR antibody synthesis in different lymphocyte populations offer valuable insights into its role, providing a means to study their impact in vitro. Analyses of clinical, immunological, and HLA antigen characteristics in MG cases suggest a complex breakdown of tolerance to AChR, hinting at multiple mechanisms behind the production of anti-AChR antibodies in this condition