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BMC Neurology
Published in: BMC Neurology 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Non-neuronal cholinergic activity is potentiated in myasthenia gravis

Authors: Bin Han, Chao Zhang, Shoufeng Liu, Yiping Xia, Hao Sun, Zhongying Gong, Alain R. Simard, Qiang Liu, Junwei Hao

Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Non–neuronal acetylcholine (ACh) restricts autoimmune responses and attenuates inflammation by cholinergic anti-inflammation pathway. To date, the implication of ACh in myasthenia gravis (MG) remained unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the possible relationship between ACh levels, anti–muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibody titers, main clinical features and outcomes of MG patients.

Methods

We successfully measured ACh levels in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 125 MG patients and 50 matched healthy controls by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). We assessed the quantitative MG (QMG) scores for each patient and titered anti-MuSK antibody.

Results

We found that PBMC-derived ACh level was significantly higher in MG patients, especially in patients of class III, IV-V, compared with that in controls (0.142 ± 0.108 vs. 0.075 ± 0.014 ng/million cells, p = 0.0003) according to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America clinical classification. Importantly, we also found that ACh levels were positively correlated with QMG scores (r = 0.83, p < 0.0001) and anti–MuSK Ab levels (r = 0.85, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Our demonstration of elevated ACh levels in PBMCs of MG patients foreshadows potential new avenues for MG research and treatment.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Non-neuronal cholinergic activity is potentiated in myasthenia gravis
Authors
Bin Han
Chao Zhang
Shoufeng Liu
Yiping Xia
Hao Sun
Zhongying Gong
Alain R. Simard
Qiang Liu
Junwei Hao
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Neurology / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-016-0772-3

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