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Schroeter CB, Nelke C, Stascheit F, Huntemann N, Preusse C, Dobelmann V, Theissen L, Pawlitzki M, Räuber S, Willison A, Vogelsang A, Marina AD, Hartung HP, Melzer N, Konen FF, Skripuletz T, Hentschel A, König S, Schweizer M, Stühler K, Poschmann G, Roos A, Stenzel W, Meisel A, Meuth SG, Ruck T. Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H3 is a potential biomarker for disease activity in myasthenia gravis. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:102. [PMID: 38888758 PMCID: PMC11195637 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02754-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis is a chronic antibody-mediated autoimmune disease disrupting neuromuscular synaptic transmission. Informative biomarkers remain an unmet need to stratify patients with active disease requiring intensified monitoring and therapy; their identification is the primary objective of this study. We applied mass spectrometry-based proteomic serum profiling for biomarker discovery. We studied an exploration and a prospective validation cohort consisting of 114 and 140 anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR-Ab)-positive myasthenia gravis patients, respectively. For downstream analysis, we applied a machine learning approach. Protein expression levels were confirmed by ELISA and compared to other myasthenic cohorts, in addition to myositis and neuropathy patients. Anti-AChR-Ab levels were determined by a radio receptor assay. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence of intercostal muscle biopsies were employed for validation in addition to interactome studies of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H3 (ITIH3). Machine learning identified ITIH3 as potential serum biomarker reflective of disease activity. Serum levels correlated with disease activity scores in the exploration and validation cohort and were confirmed by ELISA. Lack of correlation between anti-AChR-Ab levels and clinical scores underlined the need for biomarkers. In a subgroup analysis, ITIH3 was indicative of treatment responses. Immunostaining of muscle specimens from these patients demonstrated ITIH3 localization at the neuromuscular endplates in myasthenia gravis but not in controls, thus providing a structural equivalent for our serological findings. Immunoprecipitation of ITIH3 and subsequent proteomics lead to identification of its interaction partners playing crucial roles in neuromuscular transmission. This study provides data on ITIH3 as a potential pathophysiological-relevant biomarker of disease activity in myasthenia gravis. Future studies are required to facilitate translation into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina B Schroeter
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christopher Nelke
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Frauke Stascheit
- Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Niklas Huntemann
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Corinna Preusse
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Bonhoefferweg 3, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vera Dobelmann
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lukas Theissen
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marc Pawlitzki
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Saskia Räuber
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Alice Willison
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Anna Vogelsang
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Adela Della Marina
- Department of Neuropaediatrics, Neuromuscular Centre, Universitätsmedizin Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122, Essen, Germany
| | - Hans-Peter Hartung
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, 94 Mallett St, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Palacky University Olomouc, Nová Ulice, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Nico Melzer
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Felix F Konen
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Skripuletz
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Hentschel
- Leibniz-Institut Für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS - E.V, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Simone König
- Core Unit Proteomics, Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research, Medical Faculty, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Michaela Schweizer
- Electron Microscopy Unit, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kai Stühler
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Proteome Research, University Hospital and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany
- Molecular Proteomics Laboratory, Biological Medical Research Center, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr 1, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Gereon Poschmann
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Proteome Research, University Hospital and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Andreas Roos
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Neuropaediatrics, Neuromuscular Centre, Universitätsmedizin Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122, Essen, Germany
| | - Werner Stenzel
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Bonhoefferweg 3, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Meisel
- Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven G Meuth
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tobias Ruck
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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2
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Yu S, Yan J, Fang Y, Ye Y, Bu B. Effect of thymectomy on the frequencies of peripheral regulatory B and T lymphocytes in patients with Myasthenia gravis-a pilot study. Int J Neurosci 2023:1-10. [PMID: 37668142 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2023.2254922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
AIM We aimed to investigate the relationship between the peripheral lymphocyte subset frequency and thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). MATERIALS AND METHODS The frequencies of regulatory B (Breg) and regulatory T (Treg) cells in peripheral blood samples obtained from 69 patients with MG and 10 healthy controls were analyzed using flow cytometry. Serum acetylcholine receptor antibodies (AchR-Ab) were measured. Patients with MG were subdivided into pre-thymectomy, post-thymectomy, and normal thymus control group. RESULTS The percentage of Breg cells was significantly decreased in both the pre-thymectomy (7.92 ± 1.30%) and post-thymectomy (8.14 ± 1.34%) groups compared to healthy controls (16.02 ± 2.78%) and reduced in the exacerbation and relapse phase compared to the stable maintenance stage. The proportion of cluster of differentiation (CD) 4 + CD25 + T cells and CD4 + CD25 + CD127low/- Treg cells in MG patients were not significantly different than healthy controls. AchR-Ab titers in aggravating or recurrence patients after thymectomy were significantly higher than that of the stable remission patients (11.13 ± 0.70 and 6.03 ± 0.85 nmol/L, respectively; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The frequency of Breg cells may serve as a potential indicator of MG prognosis, while Treg cell frequency did not demonstrate the same prognostic ability. The concentration of AchR-Ab can be used as a dynamic monitoring index of disease severity in patients with MG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Yu
- Department of Emergency, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingjun Yan
- Department of Emergency, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Fang
- Department of Emergency, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Ye
- Department of Emergency, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bitao Bu
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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3
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Sanders DB, Lutz MW, Raja SM, Juel VC, Guptill JT, Hobson-Webb LD, Massey JM. The Duke Myasthenia Gravis Clinic Registry: II. Analysis of outcomes. Muscle Nerve 2023; 67:291-296. [PMID: 36734303 DOI: 10.1002/mus.27794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/AIMS The Duke Myasthenia Gravis (MG) Clinic Registry contains comprehensive physician-derived data on patients with MG seen in the Duke MG Clinic since 1980. The aim of this study was to report outcomes in patients seen in the clinic and treated according to the International Consensus Guidance statements. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study of patients initially seen after 2000 and followed for at least 2 years in the clinic. Treatment goal (TG) was defined as achieving MGFA post-intervention status of "minimal manifestations" or better; PIS was determined by the treating neurologist. Time-to-event analysis, including Cox proportional hazards modeling, was performed to assess the effect of sex, acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR-Ab) status, age at disease onset, distribution (ocular vs generalized), thymectomy, and thymoma on the time to achieve TG. RESULTS Among the 367 cohort patients, 72% achieved TG (median time less than 2 years). A greater proportion of patients with AChR-Abs and thymectomy achieved TG and they did so sooner than patients without these antibodies or thymectomy. Otherwise, there were no significant differences in these findings within the tested subgroups. The disease duration at the first Duke Clinic visit was shorter in patients who achieved TG than in those who did not. DISCUSSION These results demonstrate outcomes that can be achieved in patients with MG treated according to the current Consensus Guidance statements. Among other things, they can be used to determine the added value and potential role of new treatment modalities developed since 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald B Sanders
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Michael W Lutz
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Shruti M Raja
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Vern C Juel
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jeffrey T Guptill
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Lisa D Hobson-Webb
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Janice M Massey
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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4
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Chen K, Li Y, Yang H. Poor responses and adverse outcomes of myasthenia gravis after thymectomy: Predicting factors and immunological implications. J Autoimmun 2022; 132:102895. [PMID: 36041292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) has been recognized as a series of heterogeneous but treatable autoimmune conditions. As one of the indispensable therapies, thymectomy can achieve favorable prognosis especially in early-onset generalized MG patients with seropositive acetylcholine receptor antibody. However, poor outcomes, including worsening or relapse of MG, postoperative myasthenic crisis and even post-thymectomy MG, are also observed in certain scenarios. The responses to thymectomy may be associated with the general characteristics of patients, disease conditions of MG, autoantibody profiles, native or ectopic thymic pathologies, surgical-related factors, pharmacotherapy and other adjuvant modalities, and the presence of comorbidities and complications. However, in addition to these variations among individuals, pathological remnants and the abnormal immunological milieu and responses potentially represent major mechanisms that underlie the detrimental neurological outcomes after thymectomy. We underscore these plausible risk factors and discuss the immunological implications therein, which may be conducive to better managing the indications for thymectomy, to avoiding modifiable risk factors of poor responses and adverse outcomes, and to developing post-thymectomy preventive and therapeutic strategies for MG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangzhi Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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5
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Mandel-Brehm C, Fichtner ML, Jiang R, Winton VJ, Vazquez SE, Pham MC, Hoehn KB, Kelleher NL, Nowak RJ, Kleinstein SH, Wilson MR, DeRisi JL, O'Connor KC. Elevated N-Linked Glycosylation of IgG V Regions in Myasthenia Gravis Disease Subtypes. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:2005-2014. [PMID: 34544801 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Elevated N-linked glycosylation of IgG V regions (IgG-VN-Glyc) is an emerging molecular phenotype associated with autoimmune disorders. To test the broader specificity of elevated IgG-VN-Glyc, we studied patients with distinct subtypes of myasthenia gravis (MG), a B cell-mediated autoimmune disease. Our experimental design focused on examining the B cell repertoire and total IgG. It specifically included adaptive immune receptor repertoire sequencing to quantify and characterize N-linked glycosylation sites in the circulating BCR repertoire, proteomics to examine glycosylation patterns of the total circulating IgG, and an exploration of human-derived recombinant autoantibodies, which were studied with mass spectrometry and Ag binding assays to respectively confirm occupation of glycosylation sites and determine whether they alter binding. We found that the frequency of IgG-VN-Glyc motifs was increased in the total BCR repertoire of patients with MG when compared with healthy donors. The elevated frequency was attributed to both biased V gene segment usage and somatic hypermutation. IgG-VN-Glyc could be observed in the total circulating IgG in a subset of patients with MG. Autoantigen binding, by four patient-derived MG autoantigen-specific mAbs with experimentally confirmed presence of IgG-VN-Glyc, was not altered by the glycosylation. Our findings extend prior work on patterns of Ig V region N-linked glycosylation in autoimmunity to MG subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleigh Mandel-Brehm
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Miriam L Fichtner
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.,Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Ruoyi Jiang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Valerie J Winton
- Proteomics Center of Excellence, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Sara E Vazquez
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Minh C Pham
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Kenneth B Hoehn
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Neil L Kelleher
- Department of Chemistry, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Proteomics Center of Excellence at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.,Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Proteomics Center of Excellence at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Richard J Nowak
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Steven H Kleinstein
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.,Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.,Interdepartmental Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Michael R Wilson
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; and
| | - Joseph L DeRisi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.,Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA
| | - Kevin C O'Connor
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; .,Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
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6
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Raja SM, Guptill JT, McConnell A, Al-Khalidi HR, Hartwig MG, Klapper JA. Perioperative Outcomes of Thymectomy in Myasthenia Gravis: A Thoracic Surgery Database Analysis. Ann Thorac Surg 2021; 113:904-910. [PMID: 34339670 DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2021.06.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is clinical equipoise regarding the perioperative and long-term outcomes of autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) patients undergoing open vs minimally invasive thymectomy, particularly for non-thymomatous MG. This analysis utilizes multicenter, real-world clinical evidence to assess perioperative complications of open and minimally invasive thymectomy techniques in MG patients. METHODS Thymectomy cases 2009-2019 in MG patients were identified in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database. Thymectomies were grouped by surgical technique: transthoracic (TT), transcervical (TC), video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), or Robotic VATS (RVATS). Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the association between surgical technique and perioperative complications. RESULTS Analysis of non-thymomatous cases (n=1,725) revealed VATS (OR 0.44, CI 0.23-0.83), RVATS (0.73, 0.48-1.26) and TC (0.19, 0.06-0.62) had lower odds of perioperative complications than TT thymectomies. VATS (2.29, 0.63-8.30) and RVATS (4.08, 1.21-3.78) thymectomies had higher odds of perioperative complications than TC. Analysis of thymomatous cases (n=311) found no significant difference in the odds of perioperative complications in TT vs minimally invasive (VATS/RVATS) procedures. The proportion of RVATS procedures increased from 6.43% to 44.27% while TT (56.43% to 34.35%) and TC (19.29% to 6.87%) thymectomies decreased. CONCLUSIONS Minimally invasive and TC thymectomies have fewer perioperative complications than TT when performed for non-thymomatous MG. Minimally invasive procedures are increasingly performed for both non-thymomatous and thymomatous disease. There is a nationwide shift towards minimally invasive procedures, even for thymoma resections. Long-term neurological outcome data are needed to determine whether a reduced perioperative risk for minimally invasive thymectomies translates to improved MG outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti M Raja
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, Duke University Medical Center.
| | - Jeffrey T Guptill
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, Duke University Medical Center
| | - Alec McConnell
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine
| | - Hussein R Al-Khalidi
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine
| | - Matthew G Hartwig
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center
| | - Jacob A Klapper
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center
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7
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Marx A, Yamada Y, Simon-Keller K, Schalke B, Willcox N, Ströbel P, Weis CA. Thymus and autoimmunity. Semin Immunopathol 2021; 43:45-64. [PMID: 33537838 PMCID: PMC7925479 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-021-00842-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The thymus prevents autoimmune diseases through mechanisms that operate in the cortex and medulla, comprising positive and negative selection and the generation of regulatory T-cells (Tregs). Egress from the thymus through the perivascular space (PVS) to the blood is another possible checkpoint, as shown by some autoimmune/immunodeficiency syndromes. In polygenic autoimmune diseases, subtle thymic dysfunctions may compound genetic, hormonal and environmental cues. Here, we cover (a) tolerance-inducing cell types, whether thymic epithelial or tuft cells, or dendritic, B- or thymic myoid cells; (b) tolerance-inducing mechanisms and their failure in relation to thymic anatomic compartments, and with special emphasis on human monogenic and polygenic autoimmune diseases and the related thymic pathologies, if known; (c) polymorphisms and mutations of tolerance-related genes with an impact on positive selection (e.g. the gene encoding the thymoproteasome-specific subunit, PSMB11), promiscuous gene expression (e.g. AIRE, PRKDC, FEZF2, CHD4), Treg development (e.g. SATB1, FOXP3), T-cell migration (e.g. TAGAP) and egress from the thymus (e.g. MTS1, CORO1A); (d) myasthenia gravis as the prototypic outcome of an inflamed or disordered neoplastic ‘sick thymus’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Marx
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Yosuke Yamada
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Katja Simon-Keller
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Berthold Schalke
- Department of Neurology, Bezirkskrankenhaus, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Nick Willcox
- Neurosciences Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttigen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cleo-Aron Weis
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
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8
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Sanders DB, Raja SM, Guptill JT, Hobson‐Webb LD, Juel VC, Massey JM. The
D
uke myasthenia gravis clinic registry:
I
.
D
escription and demographics. Muscle Nerve 2020; 63:209-216. [DOI: 10.1002/mus.27120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Donald B. Sanders
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology Duke University Medical Center Durham North Carolina USA
| | - Shruti M. Raja
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology Duke University Medical Center Durham North Carolina USA
| | - Jeffrey T. Guptill
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology Duke University Medical Center Durham North Carolina USA
| | - Lisa D. Hobson‐Webb
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology Duke University Medical Center Durham North Carolina USA
| | - Vern C. Juel
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology Duke University Medical Center Durham North Carolina USA
| | - Janice M. Massey
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology Duke University Medical Center Durham North Carolina USA
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9
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Jiang R, Hoehn KB, Lee CS, Pham MC, Homer RJ, Detterbeck FC, Aban I, Jacobson L, Vincent A, Nowak RJ, Kaminski HJ, Kleinstein SH, O'Connor KC. Thymus-derived B cell clones persist in the circulation after thymectomy in myasthenia gravis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:30649-30660. [PMID: 33199596 PMCID: PMC7720237 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2007206117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular, autoimmune disease caused by autoantibodies that target postsynaptic proteins, primarily the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and inhibit signaling at the neuromuscular junction. The majority of patients under 50 y with AChR autoantibody MG have thymic lymphofollicular hyperplasia. The MG thymus is a reservoir of plasma cells that secrete disease-causing AChR autoantibodies and although thymectomy improves clinical scores, many patients fail to achieve complete stable remission without additional immunosuppressive treatments. We speculate that thymus-associated B cells and plasma cells persist in the circulation after thymectomy and that their persistence could explain incomplete responses to resection. We studied patients enrolled in a randomized clinical trial and used complementary modalities of B cell repertoire sequencing to characterize the thymus B cell repertoire and identify B cell clones that resided in the thymus and circulation before and 12 mo after thymectomy. Thymus-associated B cell clones were detected in the circulation by both mRNA-based and genomic DNA-based sequencing. These antigen-experienced B cells persisted in the circulation after thymectomy. Many circulating thymus-associated B cell clones were inferred to have originated and initially matured in the thymus before emigration from the thymus to the circulation. The persistence of thymus-associated B cells correlated with less favorable changes in clinical symptom measures, steroid dose required to manage symptoms, and marginal changes in AChR autoantibody titer. This investigation indicates that the diminished clinical response to thymectomy is related to persistent circulating thymus-associated B cell clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyi Jiang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Kenneth B Hoehn
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Casey S Lee
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Minh C Pham
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Robert J Homer
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service, VA CT Health Care System, West Haven, CT 06516
| | - Frank C Detterbeck
- Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Inmaculada Aban
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Leslie Jacobson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX1 2JD Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Vincent
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX1 2JD Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J Nowak
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Henry J Kaminski
- Department of Neurology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052
| | - Steven H Kleinstein
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511;
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- Interdepartmental Program in Computational Biology & Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Kevin C O'Connor
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511;
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
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Sabre L, Punga T, Punga AR. Circulating miRNAs as Potential Biomarkers in Myasthenia Gravis: Tools for Personalized Medicine. Front Immunol 2020; 11:213. [PMID: 32194544 PMCID: PMC7065262 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease caused by antibodies which attack receptors at the neuromuscular junction. One of the main difficulties in predicting the clinical course of MG is the heterogeneity of the disease, where disease progression differs greatly depending on the subgroup that the patient is classified into. MG subgroups are classified according to: age of onset [early-onset MG (EOMG; onset ≤ 50 years) versus late-onset MG (LOMG; onset > 50 years]; the presence of a thymoma (thymoma-associated MG); antibody subtype [acetylcholine receptor antibody seropositive (AChR+) and muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibody seropositive (MuSK+)]; as well as clinical subtypes (ocular versus generalized MG). The diagnostic tests for MG, such as antibody titers, neurophysiological tests, and objective clinical fatigue score, do not necessarily reflect disease progression. Hence, there is a great need for reliable objective biomarkers in MG to follow the disease course as well as the individualized response to therapy toward personalized medicine. In this regard, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising potential biomarkers due to their accessibility in body fluids and unique profiles in different diseases, including autoimmune disorders. Several studies on circulating miRNAs in MG subtypes have revealed specific miRNA profiles in patients’ sera. In generalized AChR+ EOMG, miR-150-5p and miR-21-5p are the most elevated miRNAs, with lower levels observed upon treatment with immunosuppression and thymectomy. In AChR+ generalized LOMG, the miR-150-5p, miR-21-5p, and miR-30e-5p levels are elevated and decrease in accordance with the clinical response after immunosuppression. In ocular MG, higher levels of miR-30e-5p discriminate patients who will later generalize from those remaining ocular. In contrast, in MuSK+ MG, the levels of the let-7 miRNA family members are elevated. Studies of circulating miRNA profiles in Lrp4 or agrin antibody-seropositive MG are still lacking. This review summarizes the present knowledge of circulating miRNAs in different subgroups of MG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liis Sabre
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Neuroscience, Clinical Neurophysiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tanel Punga
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Rostedt Punga
- Department of Neuroscience, Clinical Neurophysiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Li F, Tao Y, Bauer G, Elsner A, Li Z, Swierzy M, Englisch J, Meisel A, Ismail M, Rückert JC. Unraveling the role of ectopic thymic tissue in patients undergoing thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. J Thorac Dis 2019; 11:4039-4048. [PMID: 31656680 DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2019.08.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Extended thymectomy has been considered the goal of surgery for myasthenia gravis (MG) mainly due to the existence of ectopic thymic tissue. Recently, ectopic thymic tissue has attracted increasing attention in patients with MG following thymectomy. However, the specific role of ectopic thymic tissue in patients with MG is still under debate. A systematic search of the literature was performed on PubMed and Medline according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISM) statement. Studies evaluating the rate of ectopic thymic tissue in patients with MG with or without thymoma were included. Extraction was performed for all eligible studies and the rate of ectopic thymic tissue at common locations was calculated. Eighteen out of fifty-nine studies were eligible for inclusion, of which ten studies reported the common locations of ectopic thymic tissue in mediastinal fat. Of these ten studies, the presence of ectopic thymic tissue was investigated in different anatomical locations in 882 patients, of whom, 509 patients (58%) have at least one positive location with the most common ones being anterior mediastinal fat, pericardiophrenic angles, aortopulmonary window, cervical region (pretracheal fat) and lateral to phrenic nerves. On the other hand, nine studies analyzed the influence of the presence of ectopic thymic tissue on the clinical outcomes of MG patients. Of these, six found that the presence of ectopic thymic tissue in MG patients is a significant predictor of poor outcome after thymectomy, however, the other three did not find a significance. Altogether, ectopic thymic tissue is likely to present in more than a half of patients undergoing thymectomy for MG. Besides, MG patients who have ectopic thymic tissue after thymectomy do not seem to have as good outcome as those who have not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Li
- Department of Surgery, Competence Center of Thoracic Surgery, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ya Tao
- Department of Obstetrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Gero Bauer
- Department of Surgery, Competence Center of Thoracic Surgery, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aron Elsner
- Department of Surgery, Competence Center of Thoracic Surgery, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Zhongmin Li
- Department of Surgery, Competence Center of Thoracic Surgery, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marc Swierzy
- Department of Surgery, Competence Center of Thoracic Surgery, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julianna Englisch
- Department of Surgery, Competence Center of Thoracic Surgery, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Meisel
- Department of Neurology Berlin, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mahmoud Ismail
- Department of Surgery, Competence Center of Thoracic Surgery, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens-C Rückert
- Department of Surgery, Competence Center of Thoracic Surgery, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Paz ML, Barrantes FJ. Autoimmune Attack of the Neuromuscular Junction in Myasthenia Gravis: Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors and Other Targets. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:2186-2194. [PMID: 30916550 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) family, the archetype member of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, is ubiquitously distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, and its members are the targets for both genetic and acquired forms of neurological disorders. In the central nervous system, nAChRs contribute to the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases. In the peripheral nerve-muscle synapse, the vertebrate neuromuscular junction, "classical" myasthenia gravis (MG) and other forms of neuromuscular transmission disorders are antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases. In MG, antibodies to the nAChR bind to the postsynaptic receptors and activate the classical complement pathway culminating in the formation of the membrane attack complex, with the subsequent destruction of the postsynaptic apparatus. Divalent nAChR-antibodies also cause internalization and loss of the nAChRs. Loss of receptors by either mechanism results in the muscle weakness and fatigability that typify the clinical manifestations of the disease. Other targets for antibodies, in a minority of patients, include muscle specific kinase (MuSK) and low-density lipoprotein related protein 4 (LRP4). This brief Review analyzes the current status of muscle-type nAChR in relation to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases affecting the peripheral cholinergic synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariela L. Paz
- Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, IDEHU-CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Junin 956, C1113AAD Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Francisco J. Barrantes
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), UCA-CONICET, Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1600, C1107AFF Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease caused by antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR), muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) or other AChR-related proteins in the postsynaptic muscle membrane. Localized or general muscle weakness is the predominant symptom and is induced by the antibodies. Patients are grouped according to the presence of antibodies, symptoms, age at onset and thymus pathology. Diagnosis is straightforward in most patients with typical symptoms and a positive antibody test, although a detailed clinical and neurophysiological examination is important in antibody-negative patients. MG therapy should be ambitious and aim for clinical remission or only mild symptoms with near-normal function and quality of life. Treatment should be based on MG subgroup and includes symptomatic treatment using acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, thymectomy and immunotherapy. Intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange are fast-acting treatments used for disease exacerbations, and intensive care is necessary during exacerbations with respiratory failure. Comorbidity is frequent, particularly in elderly patients. Active physical training should be encouraged.
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Circulating microRNA miR-21-5p, miR-150-5p and miR-30e-5p correlate with clinical status in late onset myasthenia gravis. J Neuroimmunol 2018; 321:164-170. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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