title: Estrogen binding sites in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and thymocytes from 2 myasthenia gravis patients.
abstract: In the present investigation the estrogen binding capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and thymocytes from 2 young female Myasthenia Gravis (MG) patients has been studied. We found high levels of estrogen binding sites in both pre-thymectomy PBMC and lymphoid cells from the hyperplastic thymuses of the MG patients. A sucrose density gradient analysis revealed that the estrogen was binding to macromolecular species similar to those characterized in cytosols from classical estrogen target organs. A post-thymectomy time-dependent decrease of the estrogen binding capacity was also observed in PBMC, reaching levels similar to that of sex- and age-matched controls.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001665:Binding Sites; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013934:Thymectomy; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen