The thymus and myasthenia gravis: immunological and neurophysiological aspects

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder, in which end-plate membra ne damage is induced by antibodies directed toward various epitopes of the main immunogenic region of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Thi s article reviews the mechanisms responsible for the development of MG. Rec ent investigations into the roles of the thymus, antibodies against AChR, c ytokines, and neuromuscular transmission have given new insight into the pa thogenesis of MG. These new advances have led to a better understanding of the immune mechanisms in MG and have opened new therapeutic horizons.