Besides the immunopathogenic mechanisms of myasthenia gravis, this group is studying two therapeutic approaches that could specifically treat the disease: increasing the resistance against the antibody-mediated destruction of the muscle membrane by gene therapy; and blocking the antibody attack by the injection of recombinant human antibodies directed against the major target of the muscle membrane, the acetylcholine receptor.

Gene therapy of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis
The postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction is the target of myasthenia gravis antibodies. They found that the molecular composition of this membrane influences the effect of the antibodies. By using gene therapy to change the molecular composition, they can protect muscles against the antibody attack. Currently, they investigate the therapeutic potential of this gene therapy in an experimental autoimmune MG model.

Specific immunotherapy of myasthenia gravis by recombinant human antibodies
The major target (antigen) of myasthenia gravis antibodies is the muscular acetylcholine receptor (AChR). They and others have shown that antigen-binding antibody fragments (fragments that are able to bind to a target, but can not trigger an immune response), directed against the AChR, block the binding of pathogenic anti-AChR antibodies. The drawbacks of antibody fragments are quick serum clearance and, in many cases, immunogenicity, because of their non-human origin. They are optimising a human anti-AChR antibody by recombinant DNA technology to create a stable therapeutic agent.

(Source: www.euronschool.net/neuroimmunology/ )