Erythropoietin Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by weakness and fatigability of skeletal muscles. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a cytokine required to maintain erythroid cells. Recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) was found to act also on immune cells. Beneficial effects of rHuEPO therapy have been demonstrated in several experimental autoimmune models. We have tested the effect of rHuEPO on the course of experimental autoimmune MG (EAMG) when treatment was initiated either at the acute or at the chronic phase of the disease. A significant ameliorating effect on the course of EAMG was achieved when the treatment started at the acute phase of EAMG, which was accompanied by elevated numbers of Treg. In addition, rHuEPO reduced the levels of anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies. Our findings suggest that rHuEPO interferes in the course and progression of EAMG and may thus open new clinical opportunities for its use for immunomodulation of MG.