title: Immune regulation in myasthenia gravis: evidence for an increased suppressor T-cell population.
abstract: The production of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies in myasthenia gravis represents a persistent and unexplained break in self-tolerance. The studies reported here demonstrate an altered regulatory T-cell population with an increase in the percentage of circulating T-suppressor cells as defined by two independently developed murine monoclonal antibody markers. Leu 2a- and OKT8a-positive cells were significantly increased within the T-cell population in myasthenia gravis (25.0 +/- 6.4% versus 20.7 +/- 2.9% and 34.9 +/- 7.0% versus 26.0 +/- 3.2%, respectively) compared to an age- and sex-equivalent group. In addition, the circulating total T-cell population was reduced in myasthenia gravis. Patients with symptomatically uncontrolled disease (with or without immunosuppression) demonstrated significantly altered ratios of helper to suppressor T-cells, while patients whose myasthenia symptoms were controlled did not differ from normal subjects.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents