Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder with the production of antibodies to the n-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) as the best defined autoimmune disturbance. Some MG patients who do not have AChR antibodies (“seronegative”) have antibodies to muscle-specific kinase (MuSK). In addition, some MG patients, especially those who also have a tumour of the thymus gland, have antibodies to other muscle proteins such as titin, ryanodine receptor, and voltage-gated potassium receptor. MG is accompanied with genetic factors that influence the age at onset of neuromuscular symptoms and that differ between patients with and without thymoma. The role of cytokines and CD4+ cells in the pathogenesis of MG remains unclear.

The main focus of this special issue will be on the characterization of the autoimmune responses in MG, the genetic markers that seem to predict the development of the autoimmune disease, and the relationship between the immunological disturbances and the clinical picture. The special issue will summarize the most recent developments in the area. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• B-cell activating factors in different forms of MG
• Genetic markers in MG
• Evidence for virus infection of thymus cells in MG
• Associated inflammatory myositis in MG
• Immunological diagnosis of thymoma in MG
• Relationship between the immunological disturbances and the clinical picture

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