title: Myasthenia gravis: studies on HL-A antigens and lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with myasthenia gravis.
abstract: Thirth-three patient with a clinical diagnosis of myasthenia gravis were tissue-typed for HL-A antigens. In agreement with earlier reports a significant increase in antigens HL-A1 and HL-A8 were found in this material. Two of the patients were treated with chronic thoracic duct drainage. Proportions of T and B lymphocytes in lymph and peripheral blood were estimated in these patients. In the lymph an initial decrease in the proportion of T cells occurred, which was accompanied by a subsequent increase in the proportion of B cells. Towards the end of the chronic drainage period this effect was reversed. A slightly different picture occurred in blood lymphocytes. Initially, there was an increase in both T and B cells, followed by a decrease in T-cells numbers in one patient, whereas in the second patient the proportion of T cells decreased from the onset of drainage while the proportion of B cells steadily increased. These studies showed that available markers for determination of T ANd B cells were useful for studies of lymphocyte subpopulations in blood and lymph. Lmyphocytes from the thoracic duct were also tested for their reactivity to various mitogens specific for either T or B cells. The B-cell mitogens which were used were dextran sulphate, lipopolysaccharide, purified protein derivative, as well as rabbit anti-human beta2-microglobulin serum. The T-cell mitogens investigated were concanavalin A and phytohaemagglutinin. No significant differences in the responsiveness of thoracic duct lymphocytes compared to normal peripheral blood lymphocytes were found.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003911:Dextrans / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000276:immunology; D014373:Tuberculin
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D006680:HLA Antigens; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014373:Tuberculin; D004247:DNA