Application analysis of transfected cell method for detecting AChR antibodies in MG patients

TL;DR

This study develops a transfected cell method to detect AChR antibodies in myasthenia gravis patients, improving diagnostic accuracy and efficiency.

Contribution

A novel transfected cell method using multiple AChR subunits is introduced for highly sensitive detection of MG-related antibodies.

Findings

Transfected cells with fetal and adult AChR subunits showed the highest sensitivity for antibody detection.

The transfected cell method demonstrated excellent agreement with ELISA results (Kappa value of 0.769).

Co-transfection of multiple AChR subunits successfully created clustered nAChRs for antibody detection.

Abstract

This study aimed to establish a technical process for detecting nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antibodies using the transfected cell method and evaluate its application in the serological diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG), thereby enhancing diagnostic efficiency. Cell transfection technology was used to introduce various nAChR subunit combinations into HEK293 cells for antibody detection. Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) was utilized to test nAChR antibodies in serum samples from 85 MG patients, and the results were compared for consistency with those of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The combination of fetal and adult AChR subunits in transfected cells exhibited the highest sensitivity for detecting serum antibodies in patients with MG. The prepared cell slides demonstrated excellent consistency with the ELISA kit results for 85 MG patients, yielding a Kappa value of 0.769, indicating excellent agreement between the two methods. Co-transfection of multiple AChR subunits successfully generated a cell expressing clustered nAChRs, establishing a highly sensitive detection technique for nAChR antibodies. This technique is invaluable for serological detection of patients with MG, facilitating early disease detection, condition assessment, and therapeutic guidance.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-38414-w.

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