Changes in lymphocyte subsets in myasthenia gravis: correlation with level of antibodies to acetylcholine receptor and age of patient.
We report a detailed analysis of the subsets of lymphocytes in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). There was a slight, nonsignificant increase in the level of CD5+ B lymphocytes among MG patients as compared with normal controls. The proportion of CD5+ T cells in MG was similar to that in controls. However, whereas age had no effect on the level of these cells in normal individuals, a significant age-related decrease of these cells was present in MG patients. The proportion of double-positive CD4+CD8+ T cells was significantly increased in MG. The level of the CD29+CD4+ (helper-inducer) subset was significantly higher in MG patients than in controls. There was no correlation between the titer of autoantibodies to acetylcholine receptor and the level of either CD29+CD4+ T cells or CD5+ B cells among MG patients. The only T-cell subset that correlated with the autoantibody titer was the CD45RA+CD4+ (suppressor-inducer) subset of CD4+ T cells.
Schlesinger
I
I
Department of Neurology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Rabinowitz
R
R
Brenner
T
T
Abramsky
O
O
Schlesinger
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic