Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Antigenic Liposomes for Generation of Disease-specific Antibodies
Published on: October 25, 2018
Thymus and myasthenia gravis: antigen processing in the human thymus and the consequences for the generation of
A Melms1, C Luther, C Stoeckle
1Department of General Neurology and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Tübingen University Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany. arthur.melms@uni-tuebingen.de
Peptides displayed by antigen presenting cells in the thymus shape the T cell repertoire. We investigated the antigen processing machinery of the MHC class II presentation pathway and describe the differential expression of lysosomal proteases in compartments of the thymus and the peripheral lymphoid tissue. Overexpression of certain proteases found in the thymus and thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis is likely to affect tolerance induction and may promote the generation autoreactive CD4(+) T helper cells.
Peptides displayed by antigen presenting cells in the thymus shape the T cell repertoire. We investigated the antigen processing machinery of the MHC class II presentation pathway and describe the differential expression of lysosomal proteases in compartments of the thymus and the peripheral lymphoid tissue. Overexpression of certain proteases found in the thymus and thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis is likely to affect tolerance induction and may promote the generation autoreactive CD4(+) T helper cells.
Related Concept Videos
Myasthenia Gravis ll: Pathophysiology
Myasthenia Gravis: Overview and Treatment
These antibodies interfere with the function of the nicotinic receptors in three ways: by binding to the receptor and disrupting acetylcholine binding; by causing cross-linking of receptors which leads...
Myasthenia Gravis: Diagnostic Tests
The edrophonium test is a diagnostic tool for myasthenia gravis. It involves...
Autoimmune Disorders
Concept and Mechanism of Autoimmune Diseases
The immune system...
Cell-mediated Immune Responses
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...

