Pathogenesis of myositis and myasthenia associated with titin and ryanodine receptor antibodies

GO Skeie, F Romi, JA Aarli, PT Bentsen… - Annals of the New …, 2003 - Wiley Online Library
GO Skeie, F Romi, JA Aarli, PT Bentsen, NE Gilhus
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2003Wiley Online Library
Some myasthenia gravis (MG) patients have antibodies against skeletal muscle antigens in
addition to the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Two major antigens for these antibodies are
the Ca2+ release channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, the ryanodine receptor (RyR), and
titin, a gigantic filamentous muscle protein essential for muscle structure, function, and
development. RyR and titin antibodies are found in MG patients with a thymoma and in a
proportion of late‐onset MG, and they correlate with severe MG disease. The RyR …
Abstract: Some myasthenia gravis (MG) patients have antibodies against skeletal muscle antigens in addition to the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Two major antigens for these antibodies are the Ca2+ release channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, the ryanodine receptor (RyR), and titin, a gigantic filamentous muscle protein essential for muscle structure, function, and development. RyR and titin antibodies are found in MG patients with a thymoma and in a proportion of late‐onset MG, and they correlate with severe MG disease. The RyR antibodies recognize a region near the N‐terminus important for channel regulation. They inhibit Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum in vitro. There is electrophysiological evidence for a disordered excitation‐contraction coupling in MG patients. The presence of titin antibodies, which bind to key regions near the A/I junction and in the central I‐band, correlates with myopathy in MG patients. However, so far, there is no direct evidence that antibodies against the intracellular antigens RyR and titin are pathogenic in vivo.
Wiley Online Library