The myasthenia gravis thymus: A rare source of human autoantibody-secreting plasma cells for testing potential therapeutics

In early-onset myasthenia gravis (EOMG), the thymus is colonized by lymph node-like infiltrates including T cell areas and germinal centers. Our Group1 showed (1978) spontaneous anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) autoantibody production by EOMG thymic cells. Especially after enzymic dispersal, these are enriched in plasma cells that are evidently autonomous, long-lived, terminally differentiated and radio-resistant. Radiolabeled AChR is highly sensitive both for localizing them in situ and detecting their ongoing antibody production in culture at limiting cell numbers. Thus EOMG thymi are a readily available source of specific autoimmune human plasma cells suitable for studying their biology and testing new therapies.