The role of ADRB2 in myasthenia: genetic and immunological factors

To examine the possibility of using ADRB2 adrenergic receptor agonists for correction of myasthenia-induced immunological and motor disturbances, a method of anti-ADRB2 antibody assay by ELISA was developed. The haplotype of ADRB2 gene was determined by MLPA-PCR in 34 myasthenia patients; blood sera from 40 patients were examined. The content of antibodies against ADRB2 receptors was elevated in 12 of 30 patients with generalized form of myasthenia. Arg-Arg in position 16 in ADRB2 receptors determines the developmental risk of side effects, while Gly-Gly in the same codon determines tolerance to β2-adrenoceptor agonists and is associated with more severe course of myasthenia and resistance to β2-adrenoceptor agonists treatment with ADRB2 agonists. The study demonstrated the possibility of using ADRB2 obtained gene engineering technique for quantitatively assay the autoantibodies.