Myasthenia Gravis
Conditions
Brief summary
Myasthenia gravis is a B-cell-mediated autoimmune disorders causing muscle weakness due to defective synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction caused by autoantibodies to acetylcholine receptors in (∼85%), muscle specific kinase in 6% and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4.The detection of these autoantibodies is very important not only in the diagnosis, but also for the stratification of Myasthenia Gravis patients into respective subgroups. These groups can differ in clinical manifestations, prognosis and response to therapies which become relevant for the development of antigen-specific therapies, targeting only the specific autoantibodies involved in the autoimmune response.
Detailed description
Follicular T cells play a vital role during autoimmune disorders. The enhanced number or activation of these cells results in hyperproliferation of autoreactive B cells and overproduction of antibodies. Interleukin-37 is a newly identified immune-suppressive factor. It acts as an inhibitor of inflammation and plays an important regulatory role in both innate and adaptive immune responses. In Myasthenia Gravis, Cluster of differentiation 4+ T cell is the dominant cellular source for Interleukin-37 production directed to T follicular helper and B cells .It represses cell proliferation and secretion of autoantibody indicating that Interleukin-37 is a critical regulatory factor. The immunosuppressive features of Interleukin 37 contributing to autoimmune diseases are important and still poorly investigated. For this reason, the present study is designed to detect the level of expression of Interleukin 37 in Myasthenia Gravis patients and its correlation with autoantibodies serum levels and disease severity.
Interventions
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTreal time PCR , ELISA
Real-time RT PCR will be performed on complementary DNA produced from 250 ng total RNA using the following primers Interleukin 37, F: 59-CAGTGAGGTCAGCGATTAGGAA-39 R: 59-TTAGTGAGCAGGTTTGGTGTTTT-39 b-actin, F: 59-CACCATTGGCAATGAGCGGTTC-39 R 59-AGGTCTTTGCGGATGTCCACGT-39. Detection of autoantibodies to muscle specific kinase (MuSK) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4) serum levels by ELISA
Sponsors
Assiut University
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Clinical Diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis. 2. Willingness to sample collection.
Exclusion criteria
1. History of chronic psychiatric or neurological disorder other than Myasthenia Gravis that can produce weakness or fatigue. 2. Severe systemic illness affecting life-expectancy ( chronic liver or kidney diseases). 3. History of autoimmune diseases, connective tissue diseases, , or genetic diseases. 4. Patients on large dosage of immune-suppressive treatment or Intravenous immunoglobulin in the recent 3 months.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Expression levels of Interleukin 37 | a year | change in the expression levels of Interleukin 37 gene in the Myasthenia Gravis patients relative to the healthy control. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Autoantibodies detection | a year | Correlation of the gene expression levels with muscle specific kinase (MuSK) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP4) autoantibodies serum level. |
Contacts
Primary ContactNoha Afifi, Prof
Backup ContactFatma Sayed, lecturer
Outcome results
None listed