Abstract
The localization of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-like protein (nAChR-LP) in seven human thymi with lymphofollicular hyperplasia and four thymomas from patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) were studied using the polyclonal antibody against nAChR-LP from a fetal calf thymus. By immunoelectron microscopy in both normal thymi and thymi from patients with MG, nAChR-LP was found in the tonofilaments and the plasma membrane of mainly the secretory-type cells of Hassall's corpuscles and some medullary epithelial cells. This finding is the first confirmation of the epithelial nature of the nAChR-LP positive cells in the outer rim of Hassall's corpuscles by immunoelectron microscopy. The positive cells also showed reactivity with anti-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-class II antibody. These findings suggest that the nAChR-LP positive cells in Hassall's corpuscle and the thymic medulla are responsible for the induction of autoimmunity in MG.
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