INTRODUCTION: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease with weakness in striated musculature due to anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies or muscle specific kinase at the neuromuscular junction. A subgroup of patients has periocular symptoms only; ocular MG (OMG). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are increased in several autoimmune diseases, including generalized MG (GMG), and have been suggested to play a role in immune cell infiltration, basement membrane breakdown and autoimmune pathogenesis. METHODS: Total levels of MMP2, MMP3 and MMP9 were measured in serum by ELISA. RESULTS: The MG patients had increased serum levels of MMP2 (median values 200.7 vs. 159.7 ng/ml, p < 0.001) and MMP9 (median values 629.6 vs. 386.4 ng/ml, p < 0.001) compared to controls. A subgroup of patients had increased MMP3 concentration (p = 0.001). The differences were not dependent on presence of AChR antibodies. No difference was observed between GMG and OMG patients with regard to MMP2 (p = 0.598), MMP3 (p = 0.450) and MMP9 (p = 0.271). DISCUSSION: The increased MMP levels in our MG patients group and the lack of dependence on anti-AChR antibodies suggest that MMP2, MMP3 and MMP9 play a role in the development of MG. The similarities between GMG and OMG support OMG as a systemic disease.
INTRODUCTION:Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease with weakness in striated musculature due to anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies or muscle specific kinase at the neuromuscular junction. A subgroup of patients has periocular symptoms only; ocular MG (OMG). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are increased in several autoimmune diseases, including generalized MG (GMG), and have been suggested to play a role in immune cell infiltration, basement membrane breakdown and autoimmune pathogenesis. METHODS: Total levels of MMP2, MMP3 and MMP9 were measured in serum by ELISA. RESULTS: The MGpatients had increased serum levels of MMP2 (median values 200.7 vs. 159.7 ng/ml, p < 0.001) and MMP9 (median values 629.6 vs. 386.4 ng/ml, p < 0.001) compared to controls. A subgroup of patients had increased MMP3 concentration (p = 0.001). The differences were not dependent on presence of AChR antibodies. No difference was observed between GMG and OMG patients with regard to MMP2 (p = 0.598), MMP3 (p = 0.450) and MMP9 (p = 0.271). DISCUSSION: The increased MMP levels in our MGpatients group and the lack of dependence on anti-AChR antibodies suggest that MMP2, MMP3 and MMP9 play a role in the development of MG. The similarities between GMG and OMG support OMG as a systemic disease.
Authors: Fredrik Romi; Shigeaki Suzuki; Norihiro Suzuki; Axel Petzold; Gordon T Plant; Nils Erik Gilhus Journal: J Neurol Date: 2011-12-14 Impact factor: 4.849
Authors: Antonella Marino Gammazza; Fabio Bucchieri; Luigi M E Grimaldi; Arcangelo Benigno; Everly Conway de Macario; Alberto J L Macario; Giovanni Zummo; Francesco Cappello Journal: Cell Mol Neurobiol Date: 2012-01-19 Impact factor: 5.046