Assessment of cellular and humoral immunity of myasthenics.
A close association of autoimmune diseases or autoimmune phenomena in myasthenia gravis is well known. A comprehensive immunological study of 22 patients with myasthenia gravis showed that changes in the immune system mainly involve the thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells). Anti-thymus antibody was present in 90% of the patients, and it paralleled the frequency of thymic abnormality in myasthenia gravis. It is postulated that in myasthenia gravis the altered T cell functions caused by anti-thymus antibody result in the formation of an array of autoantibodies including the factor which blocks the neuromuscular transmission.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008934:Mitogens; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D004247:DNA