A Novel Immunomodulator, FTY720, Prevents Development of Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis in C57BL/6 Mice

Prophylactic oral administration of a novel immunomodulator (immunosuppressant), FTY720 (1 mg/kg, three times a week), completely prevented the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) in C57BL/6 mice. EAMG has been used as an animal model for human myasthenia gravis, and was established by immunizing the mice with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) from Torpedo californica. FTY720 also suppressed the production of both anti-Torpedo californica AChR antibody and anti-mouse AChR autoantibody by the mice, which were observed in mice in which EAMG had become established. These results strongly suggest that FTY720 is a promising candidate for treatment of human myasthenia gravis.