Prevention and treatment of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis with anti-rabbit thymocyte serum and gammaglobulin in rabbits

Stephen Scelsa, Marc Frost, Ramon Valderrama, Sharon Revan, Paul Pipia, Mario Dipaola

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Twenty-two rabbits received Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subcutaneously. Six rabbits were treated with 0.5 ml/kg/day of anti-rabbit thymocyte serum (ARTS), and four were treated with 5.0 mg/kg/day of anti-rabbit thymocyte gammaglobulin (ARTG) subcutaneously beginning concomitantly 1, 2 and 3 weeks after the initial AChR immunization. All 12 control animals died of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) within 52 days. None of the 10 treated rabbits developed clinical EAMG. ARTS- and ARTG-treated animals had significantly lower anti-AChR antibody titers than control animals at 3 weeks (pre-AChR booster, p& < 0.01). At 6 weeks (post-AChR booster), only ARTS-treated animals had significantly lower titers than controls (p& < 0.01). ARTS-treated animals developed sterile abscesses at injection sites, which were minimal in the ARTG-treated group. ARTS and ARTG prevent EAMG.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)168-174
Number of pages7
JournalPathobiology
Volume63
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1995
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Acetylcholine receptor
  • Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies
  • Anti-rabbit thymocyte gammaglobulin
  • Anti-rabbit thymocyte serum
  • Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Rabbits

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Prevention and treatment of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis with anti-rabbit thymocyte serum and gammaglobulin in rabbits'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this