Abstract
Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with purified acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is known to induce a T cell-dependent antibody response that results in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). Since past observations link V beta 6+ T cells with a prominent AChR epitope specificity, a V beta 6-specific immunotoxin (VIT6) was tested in vitro for its ability to selectively kill monoclonal and polyclonal T cells that demonstrate reactivity against AChR. Results described below clearly demonstrate the ability to selectively kill AChR-reactive T cells based on their expression of a particular V beta-associated antigen receptor.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Autoantibodies / biosynthesis
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Cell Death / drug effects
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Fluorescent Antibody Technique
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Immunotoxins / pharmacology*
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Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / drug effects*
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / immunology
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Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
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Ricin / pharmacology
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T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology
Substances
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Autoantibodies
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Immunotoxins
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
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Receptors, Cholinergic
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Ricin