Vaccines against myasthenia gravis

Bibliography

• AHARONOV A, ABRAMSKY O, TARRAB-HAZDAI R, FUCHS S: Humoral antibodies to acetylcholine receptor in patients with myasthenia gravis. Lancet (1975) 2:340–342.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• ••First evidence of the presence of antibodiesagainst AChR in MG patients.
   Google Scholar
• LINDSTROM JM, SEYBOLD ME, LENNON VA, WHITTINGHAM S, DUANE DD: Antibody to acetylcholine receptor in myasthenia gravis. Prevalence, clinical correlates, and diagnostic value. Neurology (1976) 26:1054–1059.
   Google Scholar
• DRACHMAN DB, ADAMS RN, JOSIFEK LF, SELF SG: Functional activities of autoantibodies to acetylcholine receptors and the clinical severity of myasthenia gravis. N Engl. J. Med. (1982) 307:769–775.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• TZARTOS SJ, SOPHIANOS D, ZIMMERMAN K, STARZINSKI-POWITZ A: Antigenic modulation of human myotube acetylcholine receptor by myasthenic sera. Serum titer determines receptor internalization rate. J. Immunol (1986) 136:3231–3238.
   Google Scholar
• ENGEL AG, LAMBERT EH, HOWARD FM: Immune complexes (IgG and C3) at the motor end-plate in myasthenia gravis: ultrastructural and light microscopic localization and electrophysiologic correlations. Mayo Clin. Proc. (1977) 52:267–280.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• HOHLFELD R, TOYKA KV, TZARTOS SJ, CARSON W, CONTI-TRONCONI BM: Human T-helper lymphocytes in myasthenia gravis recognize the nicotinic receptor alpha subunit. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1987) 84:5379-5383. Demonstration that CD4* T cells from MG patients proliferate in the presence of the AChR a-subunit.
   Google Scholar
• MELMS A, SCHALKE BC, KIRCHNER T, MULLER-HERMELINK HK, ALBERT E, WEKERLE H: Thymus in myasthenia gravis. Isolation of T-lymphocyte lines specific for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from thymuses of myasthenic patients. J. Clin. Invest. (1988) 81:902–908.
   Google Scholar
• SUN JB, HARCOURT G, WANG ZY et al: T cell responses to human recombinant acetylcholine receptor-alpha subunit in myasthenia gravis and controls. Eut. J. Immunol. (1992) 22:1553–1559.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• •Quantification by enzme-linked immunospot of the number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells reacting to the AChR a-subunit.
   Google Scholar
• ASTHANA D, FUJII Y, HUSTON GE,LINDSTROM J: Regulation of antibody production by helper T cell clones in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis is mediated by IL-4 and antigen-specific T cell factors. Clin. Immunol Immunopathol (1993) 67:240–248.
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• ROSENBERG JS, OSHIMA M, ATASSI MZ: B-cell activation in vitro by helper T cells specific to region alpha 146-162 of Torpedo californica nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. J. Immunol (1996) 157:3192–3199.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• KIRSHNER SL, KATZ-LEVY Y, WIRGUIN I, ARGOV Z, MOZES E: Fine specificity of T cell lines and clones that are capable of inducing autoimmune manifestations in mice. Cell. Immunol (1994) 157:11–28.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• VENUTA F, RENDINA EA, DE GIACOMO T et al.: Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis: a 27-year experience. Eur. j Cardiothorac. Surg. (1999) 15:621-624; discussion 624–625.
   Google Scholar
• BEGHI E, ANTOZZI C, BATOCCHI AP et al.: Prognosis of myasthenia gravis: a multicenter follow-up study of 844 patients. J. Neura Sci. (1991) 106:213–220.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• BERRIH S, MOREL E, GAUD C, RAIMOND F, LE BRIGAND H, BACH JF: Anti-AChR antibodies, thymic histology, and T cell subsets in myasthenia gravis. Neurology (1984) 34:66–71.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• •Description of a clear association between thymic pathology and the anti-AChR antibody titre, showing that the highest titres are found in patients with thymic hyperplasia.
   Google Scholar
• SPURKLAND A, GILHUS NE, RONNINGEN KS, AARLI JA, VARTDAL F: Myasthenia gravis patients with thymus hyperplasia and myasthenia gravis patients with thymoma display different HLA associations. Tissue Antigens (1991) 37:90–93.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• KUKS JB, OOSTERHUIS HJ, LIMBURG PC, THE TH: Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies decrease after thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis. Clinical correlations. J. Autoimmun. (1991) 4:197–211.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• TRUFFAULT F, COHEN-KAMINSKY S, KHALIL I, LEVASSEUR P, BERRIH-AKNIN S: Altered intrathymic T-cell repertoire in human myasthenia gravis. Ann. NeuroL (1997) 41:731–741.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• COHEN-KAMINSKY S, LEPRINCE C, GALANAUD P, RICHARDS Y, BERRIH-AKNIN S: B- and T-cell activation in the thymus of patients with myasthenia gravis. Thymus (1989) 14:187–193.
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• COHEN-KAMINSKY S, LEVASSEUR P, BINET JP, BERRIH-AKNIN S: Evidence of enhanced recombinant interleulcin-2 sensitivity in thymic lymphocytes from patients with myasthenia gravis: possible role in autoimmune pathogenesis. Neuroimmunol (1989) 24:75–85.
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• LEPRINCE C, COHEN-KAMINSKY S, BERRIH-AKNIN S et al.: Thymic B cells from myasthenia gravis patients are activated B cells. Phenotypic and functional analysis. J. Immunol (1990) 145:2115-2122. B cells purified from MG thymic hyperplasia are activated and produce antibodies against AChR.
   Google Scholar
• MOULIAN N, BIDAULT J, TRUFFAULT F, YAIVIAMOTO AM, LEVASSEUR P, BERRIH-AKNIN S: Thymocyte Fas expression is dysregulated in myasthenia gravis patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody. Blood (1997) 89:3287–3295.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• •Description of Fas as a marker of activated cells in the MG thymus and correlations with anti-AChR antibody titres.
   Google Scholar
• WAKKACH A, GUYON T, BRUAND C, TZARTOS S, COHEN-KAMINSKY S, BERRIH-AKNIN S: Expression of acetylcholine receptor genes in human thymic epithelial cells: implications for myasthenia gravis. J. Immunol. (1996) 157:3752–3760.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• ••Expression of AChR in human thymicepithelial cells at both the mRNA level and the protein level (a-subunit).
   Google Scholar
• WAKKACH A, POEA S, CHASTRE E et al.: Establishment of a human thymic myoid cell line. Phenotypic and functional characteristics. Am. J. Pathol (1999) 155:1229–1240.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• ZHENG Y, WHEATLEY LM, LIU T, LEVINSON Al: Acetylcholine receptor alpha subunit mRNA expression in human thymus: augmented expression in myasthenia gravis and upregulation by interferon-gamma. Clin. Immunol (1999) 91:170–177.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• •AChR expression is increased in MG thymuses.
   Google Scholar
• PC/RA-GUYON S, CHRISTADOSS P, LE PANSE R et al.: Effects of cytokines on acetylcholine receptor expression: implications for myasthenia gravis. Immunol. (2005) 174(10):5941–5949.
   Google Scholar
• SHELTON GD: Acquired myasthenia gravis: what we have learned from experimental and spontaneous animal models. Vet. Immunol Immunopathol (1999) 69:239–249.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• LINK H, XIAO BG: Rat models as tool to develop new immunotherapies. Immunol. Rev. (2001) 184:117–128.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• MEINL E, KLINKERT WE, WEKERLE H: The thymus in myasthenia gravis. Changes typical for the human disease are absent in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis of the Lewis rat. Am. J. Pathol (1991) 139:995–1008.
   Google Scholar
• •The thymus is not involved in the experimental model of myasthenia in rats.
   Google Scholar
• BARTFELD D, FUCHS S: Specific immunosuppression of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by denatured acetylcholine receptor. Proc. Nail. Acad. Sci. USA (1978) 75:4006–4010.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• •This is the first demonstration that EAMG is suppressed by denatured Torpedo AChR.
   Google Scholar
• WEINER HL: Oral tolerance: immune mechanisms and treatment of autoimmune diseases. Immunol lbday (1997) 18:335–343.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• TOUSSIROT EA: Oral tolerance in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
   Google Scholar
• Cuff. Drug Targets Inflamm. Allergy (2002) 1:45–52.
   Google Scholar
• WANG ZY, QIAO J, LINK H: Suppression of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by oral administration of acetylcholine receptor. J. Neuroimmunol. (1993) 44:209–214.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• OKUMURA S, MCINTOSH K, DRACHMAN DB: Oral administration of acetylcholine receptor: effects on experimental myasthenia gravis. Ann. Neurol. (1994) 36:704–713.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• MA CG, ZHANG GX, XIAO BG, LINK J, OLSSON T, LINK H: Suppression of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by nasal administration of acetylcholine receptor. J. Neuroimmuna (1995) 58:51–60.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• DRACHMAN DB, OKUMURA S, ADAMS RN, MCINTOSH KR: Oral tolerance in myasthenia gravis. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. (1996) 778:258–272.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• SHI FD, BAI XF, LI HL, HUANG YM, VAN DER MEIDE PH, LINK H: Nasal tolerance in experimental autoimmune
   Google Scholar
• •• myasthenia gravis (EAMG): induction of protective tolerance in primed animals. Clin. Exp. Immunol (1998) 111:506–512.
   Google Scholar
• TZARTOS SJ, LINDSTROM JM: Monoclonal antibodies used to probe acetylcholine receptor structure: localization of the main immunogenic region and detection of similarities between subunits. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA (1980) 77:755–759.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• ••Identification and localisation of the MIRof the AChR.
   Google Scholar
• BARCHAN D, ASHER 0, TZARTOS SJ, FUCHS S, SOUROUJON MC: Modulation of the anti-acetylcholine receptor response and experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by recombinant fragments of the acetylcholine receptor. Eur. j Immunol (1998) 28:616–624.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• IM SH, BARCHAN D, FUCHS S, SOUROUJON MC: Suppression of ongoing experimental myasthenia by oral treatment with an acetylcholine receptor recombinant fragment [see comments]. Clin. Invest. (1999) 104:1723–1730.
   Google Scholar
• •Demonstration that ongoing EAMG in rats is suppressed by oral or nasal tolerance with a xenogeneic or syngeneic recombinant fragment corresponding to the extracellular domain of the AChR a-subunit.
   Google Scholar
• MATTI PK, FEFERMAN T, IM SH, SOUROUJON MC, FUCHS S: Immunosuppression of rat myasthenia gravis by oral administration of a syngeneic acetylcholine receptor fragment. Neuroimmunol (2004) 152:112–120.
   Google Scholar
• •See [39]•
   Google Scholar
• BARCHAN D, SOUROUJON MC, IM SH, ANTOZZI C, FUCHS S: Antigen-specific modulation of experimental myasthenia gravis: nasal tolerization with recombinant fragments of the human acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit. Proc. Nail. Acad. Sci. USA (1999) 96:8086–8091.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• •See [39]•
   Google Scholar
• IM S, BARCHAN D, FUCHS S, SOUROUJON MC: Mechanism of nasal tolerance induced by a recombinant fragment of acetylcholine receptor for treatment of experimental myasthenia gravis. J. Neuroimmunol. (2000) 111:161–168.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• •See [39].
   Google Scholar
• SOUROUJON MC, CARMON S, FUCHS S: Modulation of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody specificities and of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by synthetic peptides. Immunol Lett. (1992) 34:19–25.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• SOUROUJON MC, CARMON S, FUCHS S: Regulation of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by synthetic peptides of the acetylcholine receptor. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. (1993) 681:332–334.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• ATASSI MZ, RUAN KH, JINNAI K, OSHIMA M, ASHIZAWA Epitope-specific suppression of antibody response in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by a monomethoxypolyethylene glycol conjugate of a myasthenogenic synthetic peptide. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA (1992) 89:5852–5856.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• WU B, DENG C, GOLUSZKO E, CHRISTADOSS P: Tolerance to a dominant T cell epitope in the acetylcholine receptor molecule induces epitope spread and suppresses murine myasthenia gravis. J. Immunol (1997) 159:3016–3023.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• KARACHUNSKI PI, OSTLIE NS, OKITA DK, GARMAN R, CONTI-FINE BM: Subcutaneous administration of T-epitope sequences of the acetylcholine receptor prevents experimental myasthenia gravis. J. Neuroimmunol (1999) 93:108–121.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• SHENOY M, OSHIMA M, ATASSI MZ, CHRISTADOSS P: Suppression of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by epitope-specific neonatal tolerance to synthetic region alpha 146-162 of acetylcholine receptor. Clin. Immunol Immunopathol (1993) 66:230–238.
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• KARACHUNSKI PI, OSTLIE NS, OKITA DK, CONTI-FINE BM: Prevention of experimental myasthenia gravis by nasal administration of synthetic acetylcholine receptor T epitope sequences. J. Clin. Invest. (1997) 100:3027–3035.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• BAGGI F, ANDREETTA F, CASPANI E et al.: Oral administration of an immunodominant T-cell epitope downregulates Thl/Th2 cytokines and prevents experimental myasthenia gravis. J. Clin. Invest. (1999) 104:1287–1295.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• DENG C, GOLUSZKO E, CHRISTADOSS P: Fas/fas ligand pathway, apoptosis, and clonal anergy involved in systemic acetylcholine receptor t cell epitope tolerance. J. Immunol (2001) 166:3458–3467.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• SOUROUJON MC, MATTI PK, FEFERMAN T, IM SH, RAVEH L, FUCHS S: Suppression of myasthenia gravis by antigen-specific mucosal tolerance and modulation of cytokines and costimulatory factors. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. (2003) 998:533–536.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• IM SH, BARCHAN D, SOUROUJON MC, FUCHS S: Role of tolerogen conformation in induction of oral tolerance in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. J. Immunol (2000) 165:3599–3605.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• IM SH, BARCHAN D, FEFERMAN T, RAVEH L, SOUROUJON MC, FUCHS S: Protective molecular mimicry in experimental myasthenia gravis. Neuroimmunol (2002) 126:99–106.
   Google Scholar
• SELA M, MOZES E: Therapeutic vaccinesin autoimmunity. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA (2004) 101\(Suppl. 2):14586–14592.
   Google Scholar
• ZHANG GX, XIAO BG, YU LY, VAN DER MEIDE PH, LINK H: Interleukin 10 aggravates experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis through inducing Th2 and B cell responses to AChR. j Neuroimmunol (2001) 113:10–18.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• •Evidence for the deleterious role of IL-10 in the induction of EAMG.
   Google Scholar
• POUSSIN MA, GOLUSZKO E, HUGHES TK, DUCHICELLA ST, CHRISTADOSS P: Suppression of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis in IL-10 gene-disrupted mice is associated with reduced B cells and serum cytotoxicity on mouse cell line expressing AChR. j Neuroimmunol (2000) 111:152–160.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• •See [56].
   Google Scholar
• OSTLIE NS, KARACHUNSKI PI, WANG W, MONFARDINI C, KRONENBERG M, CONTI-FINE BM: Transgenic expression of IL-10 in T cells facilitates development of experimental myasthenia gravis. J. Immunol (2001) 166:4853–4862.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• •See [56].
   Google Scholar
• VANDERLUGT CL, MILLER SD: Epitope spreading in immune-mediated diseases: implications for immunotherapy. Nat. Rev. Immunol. (2002) 2:85–95.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• FEFERMAN T, IM SH, FUCHS S, SOUROUJON MC: Breakage of tolerance to hidden cytoplasmic epitopes of the acetylcholine receptor in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. Neuroimmuna (2003) 140:153–158.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• SOUROUJON MC, BARCHAN D, FUCHS S: Analysis and modulation of the immune response of mice to acetylcholine receptor by anti-idiotypes. Immunol. Lett. (1985) 9:331–336.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• SOUROUJON MC, PACHNER AR, FUCHS S: The treatment of passively transferred experimental myasthenia with anti-idiotypic antibodies. Neurology (1986) 36:622–625.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• ARAGA S, LEBOEUF RD, BLALOCK JE:Prevention of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by manipulation of the immune network with a complementary peptide for the acetylcholine receptor [published erratum appears in Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA (1994) 91 (4) :1598] . Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1993) 90:8747–8751.
   Google Scholar
• LOUTRARI H, KOKLA A, TZARTOS SJ:Passive transfer of experimental myasthenia gravis via antigenic modulation of acetylcholine receptor. Eur. j Immunol (1992) 22:2449–2452.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• ARAGA S, GALIN FS, KISHIMOTO M, ADACHI A, BLALOCK JB: Prevention of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by a monoclonal antibody to a complementary peptide for the main immunogenic region of the acetylcholine receptors. J. Immunol. (1996) 157:386–392.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• VERSCHUUREN JJ, GRAUS YM, VAN BREDA VRIESMAN PJ, TZARTOS S, DE BAETS MH: In vivo effects of neonatal administration of antiidiotype antibodies on experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. Autoimmunity (1991) 10:173–179.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• XIAO BG, DUAN RS, LINK H, HUANG YM: Induction of peripheral tolerance to experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by acetylcholine receptor-pulsed dendritic cells. Cell. Immunol (2003) 223:63–69.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• YARILIN D, DUAN R, HUANG YM, XIAO BG: Dendritic cells exposed in vitro to TGF-betal ameliorate experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. Clin. Exp. Immunol (2002) 127:214–219.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• DUAN RS, ADIKARI SB, HUANG YM, LINK H, XIAO BG: Protective potential of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis in Lewis rats by IL-10-modified dendritic cells. Neurobiol Dis. (2004) 16:461–467.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• AISSAOUI A, KLINGEL-SCHMITT I, COUDERC J et al.: Prevention of autoimmune attack by targeting specific T-cell receptors in a severe combined immunodeficiency mouse model of myasthenia gravis [see comments]. Ann. NeuroL (1999) 46:559–567.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• •Evidence for a pathogenic role of 1/135.1-expressing T cells from HLA-DR3 patients.
   Google Scholar
• JAMBOU F, ZHANG W, MENESTRIER M et al.: Circulating regulatory anti-T cell receptor antibodies in patients with myasthenia gravis. j Clin. Invest. (2003) 112:265–274.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• OFFNER H, HASHIM GA, VANDENBARK AA: Immunity to T cell receptor peptides: theory and applications. Regul Pept. (1994) 51:77–90.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• XU L, VILLAIN M, GALIN FS, ARAGA S, BLALOCK JE: Prevention and reversal of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by a monoclonal antibody against acetylcholine receptor-specific T cells. Cell. Immunol (2001) 208:107–114.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• BENSINGER SJ, WALSH PT, ZHANG J et al.: Distinct IL-2 receptor signaling pattern in CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. Immunol (2004) 172:5287–5296.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• HORWITZ DA, ZHENG SG, GRAY JD, WANG JH, OHTSUKA K, YAMAGIWA S: Regulatory T cells generated ex vivo as an approach for the therapy of autoimmune disease. Semin. Immunol (2004) 16:135–143.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• WOOD KJ, SAKAGUCHI S: Regulatory T cells in transplantation tolerance. Nat. Rev. Immunol. (2003) 3:199–210.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• SHEVACH EM: Regulatory T cells in autoimmmunity*. Annu. Rev. Immunol (2000) 18:423–449.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• BAECHER-ALLAN C, VIGLIETTA V, HAFLER DA: Human CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. Semin. Immunol. (2004) 16:89–98.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• FONTENOT JD, GAVIN MA, RUDENSKY AY: Foxp3 programs the development and function of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. Nat. Immunol (2003) 4:330–336.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• ••Convincing demonstration of the role ofFoicP3 in the regulatory function of CD4CD25 * cells.
   Google Scholar
• VIGLIETTA V, BAECHER-ALLAN C, WEINER HL, HAFLER DA: Loss of functional suppression by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in patients with multiple sclerosis. J. Exp. Med. (2004) 199:971–979.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• KRIEGEL MA, LOHMANN T, GABLER C, BLANK N, KALDEN JR, LORENZ HM: Defective suppressor function of human CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells in autoimmune polyglandular syndrome Type II. J. Exp. Med. (2004) 199:1285–1291.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• LINDLEY S, DAYAN CM, BISHOP A, ROEP BO, PEAKMAN M, TREE TI: Defective suppressor function in CD4(+)CD25(+) T-cells from patients with Type 1 diabetes. Diabetes (2005) 54:92–99.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• HUANG YM, PIRSKANEN R, GISCOMBE R, LINK H, LEFVERT AK: Circulating CD4CD25 and CD4CD25 T cells in myasthenia gravis and in relation to thymectomy. Scandj Immunol (2004) 59:408–414.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• SUN Y, QIAO J, LU CZ, ZHAO CB, ZHU XM, XIAO BG: Increase of circulating CD4+CD25+ T cells in myasthenia gravis patients with stability and thymectomy. Clin. Immunol (2004) 112:284–289.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• BALANDINA A, LECART S, DARTEVELLE P, SAOUDI A, BERRIH-AKNIN S: Functional defect of regulatory CD4(+)CD25+ T cells in the thymus of patients with autoimmune myasthenia gravis. Blood (2005) 105:735–741.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• ••Clear demonstration of a severe defect inthe regulatory function of CD4*CD25* cells in MG patients.
   Google Scholar
• BLUESTONE JA, TANG Q: Therapeutic vaccination using CD4+CD25+ antigen-specific regulatory T cells. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA (2004) 101\(Suppl. 2):14622–14626.
   Google Scholar
• CHATENOUD L: CD3-specific antibody-induced active tolerance: from bench to bedside. Nat. Rev. Immunol (2003) 3:123–132.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• MCINTOSH KR, LINSLEY PS, DRACHMAN DB: Immunosuppression and induction of anergy by CTLA4Ig in vitro: effects on cellular and antibody responses of lymphocytes from rats with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. Cell. Immunol. (1995) 166:103–112.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• IM SH, BARCHAN D, MATTI PK, FUCHS S, SOUROUJON MC: Blockade of cd40 ligand suppresses chronic experimental myasthenia gravis by down-regulation of tili differentiation and up-regulation of ctla-4.j Immunol (2001) 166:6893–6898.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• IM SH, BARCHAN D, MATTI PK, RAVEH L, SOUROUJON MC, FUCHS S: Suppression of experimental myasthenia gravis, a B cell-mediated autoimmune disease, by blockade of IL-18. FASEB J. (2001) 15:2140–2148.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• STEINMAN L: Immune therapy forautoimmune diseases. Science (2004) 305:212–216.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• KOMAGATA Y, WEINER HL: Oraltolerance. Rev. Immunogenet. (2000) 2:61–73.
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• COHEN IR, QUINTANA FJ, MIMRAN A: Tregs in T cell vaccination: exploring the regulation of regulation. Clin. Invest. (2004) 114:1227–1232.
   Google Scholar
• FIGDOR CG, DE VRIES IJ, LESTERHUIS WJ, MELIEF CJ: Dendritic cell immunotherapy: mapping the way. Nat. Med. (2004) 10:475–480.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• LESTERHUIS WJ, DE VRIES IJ, ADEMA GJ, PUNT CJ: Dendritic cell-based vaccines in cancer immunotherapy: an update on clinical and immunological results. Ann. Oncol. (2004) 15\(Suppl. 4):iv145-iv151.
   Google Scholar
• RIESER C, RAMONER R, HOLTL L et al.: Mature dendritic cells induce T-helper type-l-dominant immune responses in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Urol. Int. (1999) 63:151–159.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• WIENDL H, HOHLFELD R: Therapeutic approaches in multiple sclerosis: lessons from failed and interrupted treatment trials. BioDrugs (2002) 16:183–200.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• WARDROP RM 3rd, WHITACRE CC: Oral tolerance in the treatment of inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Inflamm. Res. (1999) 48:106–119.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• MISHINA M, TAKAI T, IMOTO K et al.: Molecular distinction between fetal and adult forms of muscle acetylcholine receptor. Nature (1986) 321:406–411.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• BEESON D, MORRIS A, VINCENT A, NEWSOM-DAVIS J: The human muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit exist as two isoforms: a novel exon. EMBO J. (1990) 9:2101–2106.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar