T-cell interleukin-6 receptor binding in patients with myasthenia gravis.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a T-cell-dependent and antibody-mediated autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction, in which the cytokine network may be deranged. Specific receptors for interleukin (IL)-6, a cytokine with several effects on the neuroimmune system, have been found on human lymphocytes. The aim of the present study has been to assay IL-6 binding on peripheral blood T cells from MG patients. We found that T cells from MG patients have significantly more IL-6 receptors than those from controls (Bmax: 334 +/- 6 vs 251 +/- 4 (mean +/- SEM) receptors/cell). Such IL-6 binding sites are of the same type in patients and healthy subjects (Kd: 26.5 +/- 0.7 vs 25.7 +/- 0.9 (mean +/- SEM) pM). The enhanced T-cell interleukin-6 binding is due to an increased number of interleukin-6 receptors on T-helper lymphocytes. These results are discussed in terms of MG immunopathogenesis, since it has been reported that activated T cells have increased amounts of IL-6 receptors.
Department of Neurosciences, University of Pisa, Italy.
P
P
Bongioanni
R
R
Ricciardi
M R
MR
Romano
L
L
Murri
A
A
Muratorio
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000378:metabolism
D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6