Abstract
The study reported below describes increased expression of IL-4 receptor in cultured rat myocytes following exposure to an antibody reactive with the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). In addition, upon up-regulation of IL-4R, myocytes demonstrated an increased responsiveness to IL-4 by producing increased levels of IL-15. Moreover, following passive transfer of AChR antibody into Lewis rats, both the increased IL-4R expression and IL-15 production were also observed in intact skeletal muscle, co-localizing in particular individual muscle fibers; the same muscle fibers also produced the chemokine MCP-1 to which IL-4-producing T cells were attracted. A model is proposed in which these muscle activities participate in disease progression in experimental myasthenia gravis.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 246-256 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Clinical Immunology |
Volume | 132 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2009 |
Keywords
- Autoimmune disease
- Muscle IL-15
- Muscle IL-4 receptor
- Muscle disease
- Myasthenia gravis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology