Changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subset frequencies in myasthenia gravis patients are related to immunosuppression.
Surface antigens on peripheral blood lymphocytes from myasthenia gravis patients were investigated. The expression of DR+ and CD8+/DR+ T lymphocytes was increased and the expression of CD4+ T cells reduced. Neither thymectomy, clinical condition nor anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody titre correlated with any of the changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets observed. However, immunosuppressive therapy correlated with the significant reduction in CD4+ and CD2+/CD4+ T cells in these patients.
Crosti
F
F
Divisione Malattie Neuromuscolari, Istituto Nazionale Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy.
Armanini
M
M
Confalonieri
P
P
Antozzi
C
C
Mantegazza
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013934:Thymectomy
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens