Acetylcholine receptor autoantibody (AChR autoantibody)

Acetylcholine receptor autoantibodies are pathogenic immunoglobulins (primarily IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses) directed against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) at the neuromuscular junction. These autoantibodies are the principal diagnostic markers for myasthenia gravis and are directly involved in disease pathology through various mechanisms: cross-linking and internalization of AChRs, complement-mediated lysis of the postsynaptic membrane, and functional blockade of acetylcholine binding. The main immunogenic region (MIR) for most autoantibodies is a conformational epitope on residues 67–76 of the α1 subunit of the muscle-type AChR. Their heterogeneity in epitope specificity and effector mechanisms contributes to the variable manifestations of myasthenia gravis, and antibody titer (particularly MIR-specific) correlates with disease severity[1][2][3][4]. These autoantibodies are not therapeutic targets but are important biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring.

Other names

Anti-AChR antibodyAcetylcholine receptor antibodynAChR autoantibody