Induction of Myasthenia Gravis in HLA Transgenic Mice by Immunization with Human Acetylcholine Receptors.

Abstract: We utilized HLA transgenic mice to identify the dominant epitopes on the human (H)‐AChR α subunit. The cytoplasmic H‐AChR peptide α320–337 was the dominant T cell epitope for DQ8, DR3, and DQ8×DQ6 F1 mice. The H‐AChR‐immunized HLA‐DQ8, DR3, DQ8×DR3 F1 and DQ8×DQ6 F1 mice developed clinical EAMG, whereas HLA‐DQ6 mice were less susceptible.