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What is gMG?

Explore the Neuromuscular Junction

This disruption happens in the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the place where the nerve cells and muscles communicate.4

Healthy NMJ
NMJ Impacted by gMG

Healthy NMJ

Normally, a signal, usually ACh, is released from nerve cells and attaches to receptors on the muscle cells, telling muscles to contract.4,5

NMJ Impacted by gMG4,5

In gMG, the body makes autoantibodies (malfunctioning parts of the immune system) that attack AChR, or less-commonly, muscle receptor proteins such as MuSK. These autoantibodies disrupt normal nerve-muscle communication, causing muscle weakness.4,5

References

References

ACh, acetylcholine; AChR, acetylcholine receptor; gMG, generalized myasthenia gravis; MG, myasthenia gravis; MuSK, muscle-specific tyrosine kinase; NMJ, neuromuscular junction.
1. Behin A, Le Panse R. J Neuromuscul Dis. 2018;5(3):265-277. 2. Todar K. Todar’s Online Textbook of Bacteriology. University of Wisconsin-Madison. 2002. Accessed Aug 7, 2025. 3. Ludwig RJ, et al. Front Immunol. 2017;8:603. 4. Gilhus NE, Tzartos S, Evoli A, Palace J, Burns TM, Verschuuren J. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2019;5(1):30. 5. Li Y, Aurora Y, Levin K. Cleve Clin J Med. 2013;80(11):711-721. 6. Jackson K, Parthan A, Lauher-Cherest M, Broderick L, Law N, Barnett C. Neurol Ther. 2023;12(1):107-128. 7. Khadilkar SV, Chaudhari CR, Patil TR, Desai ND, Jagiasi KA, Bhutada AG. Neurol India. 2014;62(5):492-497. 8. Grob D, Brunner N, Namba T, Pagala M. Muscle Nerve. 2008;37(2):141-149. 9. Overview of MG. Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America. Accessed May 2023. https://myasthenia.org/Professionals/Clinical-Overview-of-MG

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