Novel autoantibodies to a voltage-gated potassium channel KV1.4 in a severe form of myasthenia gravis

Shigeaki Suzuki, Takashi Satoh, Hidekata Yasuoka, Yasuhito Hamaguchi, Kortaro Tanaka, Yutaka Kawakami, Norihiro Suzuki, Masataka Kuwana

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

77 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Sera from patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) were screened for autoantibodies to skeletal muscle-specific antigens by immunoprecipitation assay, using rhabdomyosarcoma and leukemia cell lines. Eleven of 61 MG sera immunoprecipitated a rhabdomyosarcoma-specific 70-kDa protein, which was identified as the voltage-gated K+ channel 1.4 (KV1.4). This antibody specificity was not detected in 30 patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis, 9 with thymoma alone, or 30 healthy controls. Clinical features associated with anti-KV1.4 antibody included bulbar involvement, myasthenic crisis, thymoma, myocarditis, and QT prolongation on electrocardiogram. These findings suggest that anti-KV1.4 antibody is a novel autoantibody associated with a severe MG subset and thymoma.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)141-149
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Neuroimmunology
Volume170
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30-12-2005
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

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