Emerging Therapies for the Treatment of Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease mediated by autoantibodies that mainly target muscle nicotinic acetylcholinereceptor (AChR) and cause loss of functional AChRs in the neuromuscular junction. Despite extensive knowledge from studieson MG and its major autoantigen, the aetiology of the disease remains unclear, thus rendering therapeutic options unable totarget the causative agent. Latest progress on recombinant expression of the AChR subunits has allowed for some alternative,though promising, therapeutic approaches. The scope of this chapter is to provide an overview of the recent achievements inthe field of emerging therapeutics for MG, including antigen-specific therapies, which are directed at the autoimmune response.