Prominent T-Cell Responses against the Acetylcholine Receptor ε Subunit in Myasthenia Gravis

Figure 1

Frequency of IFN--secreting events per 10⁶ PBL in single donors. ELISPOT assay was performed as described in the text. Results are assigned as the numbers of IFN--secreting events among 10⁶ PBL minus the corresponding numbers of events per 10⁶ PBL without antigen. Negative results (spot number without antigen exceeding spot number with antigen) were defined zero. Grey bars, mean response ± SD; black bars, mean positive response ± SD; crosses, median positive response; MG, myasthenia gravis patients; HD, healthy donors. Note the high standard deviations due to heterogeneous responses of single individuals (see Table 1). Note the different Y axis scales using four different recombinant fragments. (a) fragment Alpha 1-103; (b) Alpha 1-209; (c) Alpha 327-398; (d) Epsilon 1-221.

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