Biomaterial Database

Human monoclonal immunoglobulins that bind the human acetylcholine receptor. 1987

H Eng, and A K Lefvert, and H Mellstedt, and A Osterborg

Department of Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Myeloma immunoglobulins, once thought to be without any immunological function, are now known to be reactive with many antigens, including self components. We have screened 149 monoclonal immunoglobulin samples and found 14 (9%) to react with the human acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Such anti-AChR antibodies are often associated with the autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis (MG). The anti-AChR binding of the myeloma components was restricted to the F(ab')2 fragment and the affinities were similar to anti-AChR antibodies isolated from MG patients. Despite the presence of anti-AChR antibodies none of the patients exhibited any symptoms of MG.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007140	Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments	Univalent antigen-binding fragments composed of one entire IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAIN and the amino terminal end of one of the IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAINS from the hinge region, linked to each other by disulfide bonds. Fab contains the IMMUNOGLOBULIN VARIABLE REGIONS, which are part of the antigen-binding site, and the first IMMUNOGLOBULIN CONSTANT REGIONS. This fragment can be obtained by digestion of immunoglobulins with the proteolytic enzyme PAPAIN.	Fab Fragment,Fab Fragments,Ig Fab Fragments,Immunoglobulins, Fab Fragment,Fab Immunoglobulin Fragments,Immunoglobulin Fab Fragment,Immunoglobulins, Fab,Fab Fragment Immunoglobulins,Fab Fragment, Immunoglobulin,Fab Fragments, Immunoglobulin,Fragment Immunoglobulins, Fab,Fragment, Fab,Immunoglobulin Fragments, Fab
D011978	Receptors, Nicotinic	One of the two major classes of cholinergic receptors. Nicotinic receptors were originally distinguished by their preference for NICOTINE over MUSCARINE. They are generally divided into muscle-type and neuronal-type (previously ganglionic) based on pharmacology, and subunit composition of the receptors.	Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors,Nicotinic Receptors,Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor,Nicotinic Receptor,Acetylcholine Receptor, Nicotinic,Acetylcholine Receptors, Nicotinic,Receptor, Nicotinic,Receptor, Nicotinic Acetylcholine,Receptors, Nicotinic Acetylcholine
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000911	Antibodies, Monoclonal	Antibodies produced by a single clone of cells.	Monoclonal Antibodies,Monoclonal Antibody,Antibody, Monoclonal
D000915	Antibody Affinity	A measure of the binding strength between antibody and a simple hapten or antigen determinant. It depends on the closeness of stereochemical fit between antibody combining sites and antigen determinants, on the size of the area of contact between them, and on the distribution of charged and hydrophobic groups. It includes the concept of "avidity," which refers to the strength of the antigen-antibody bond after formation of reversible complexes.	Affinity, Antibody,Antibody Avidity,Avidity, Antibody,Affinities, Antibody,Antibody Affinities,Antibody Avidities,Avidities, Antibody
D001323	Autoantibodies	Antibodies that react with self-antigens (AUTOANTIGENS) of the organism that produced them.	Autoantibody