Impaired B Cell Expression of the Inhibitory Fcγ Receptor IIB in Myasthenia Gravis.

Keller CW, Chuquisana O, Derdelinckx J, Gross CC, Berger K, Robinson J, Nimmerjahn F, Wiendl H, Willcox N, Lünemann JD

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease in which pathogenic immunoglobulin G antibodies bind to acetylcholine receptors (or to functionally related molecules at the neuromuscular junction). B cell expression of the inhibitory immunoglobulin G receptor, Fc-gamma receptor (FcγR) IIB, maintains peripheral immune tolerance, and its absence renders B cells hyperresponsive to autoantigen. Here, we report that FcγRIIB expression levels are substantially reduced in B lineage cells derived from immunotherapy-naïve patients with acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive early-onset MG. In contrast, genetic variants associated with impaired FcγRIIB expression are not enriched in MG, indicating post-transcriptional dysregulation. FcγR-targeted therapies could have therapeutic benefits in MG. ANN NEUROL 2022.