Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 21, 2025
Antibody Transfection into Neurons as a Tool to Study Disease Pathogenesis
Published on: September 26, 2012
Ganglionic Acetylcholine Receptor Antibodies in Postural Tachycardia Syndrome
Meredith Bryarly1, Satish R Raj1, Lauren Phillips1
1Department of Neurology (MB, LP, MV, SV), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; Autonomic Dysfunction Center (SRR, LEO, ACA, SYP, BKB), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Neural & Behavioral Sciences (ACA), Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey; Department of Cardiac Sciences (SRR), Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Canada; and Departments of Population & Data Sciences and Psychiatry (LSH), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
Objective:
Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), the most common form of dysautonomia, may be associated with autoimmunity in some cases. Autoantibodies against the ganglionic acetylcholine receptor (gAChR) have been reported in a minority of patients with POTS, but the prevalence and clinical relevance is unclear.
Methods:
Clinical information and serum samples were systematically collected from participants with POTS and healthy control volunteers (n = 294). The level of positive gAChR antibodies was classified as very low (0.02-0.05 nmol/L), low (0.05-0.2 nmol/L), and high (>0.2 nmol/L).
Results:
Fifteen of 217 patients with POTS (7%) had gAChR antibodies (8 very low and 7 low). Six of the 77 healthy controls (8%) were positive (3 very low and 3 low). There were no clinical differences between seropositive and seronegative patients with POTS.
Conclusions:
Prevalence of gAChR antibody did not differ between POTS and healthy controls, and none had high antibody levels. Patients with POTS were not clinically different based on seropositivity. Low levels of gAChR antibodies are not clinically important in POTS.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Myasthenia 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...
01:15Myasthenia Gravis: Diagnostic Tests
The edrophonium test is a diagnostic tool for myasthenia gravis. It involves...
01:30Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions
At the neuromuscular junction, these agents work by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, allowing it to remain bound to the receptor and bind to nearby receptors. This process leads to repetitive firing of the endplate, causing muscle...
01:28Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Blockers
01:25Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic
The subtypes M1, M3, and M5 couple with the Gq subunit and activate the phospholipase C (PLC) activity, mobilizing intracellular Ca2+....
01:23Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants
Ganglionic stimulants activate NM nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia, falling into two categories: nicotine mimetics [e.g., lobeline, dimethylpiperazine, tetramethylammonium] and muscarinic receptor agonists [e.g., muscarine, methacholine]. The first category's action is rapid and blocked by nicotinic receptor antagonists, while the second category's action is delayed and blocked by atropine-like agents. Nicotine, an alkaloid, affects the heart rate by stimulating...