title: T-cell tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor binding in myasthenic patients.
abstract: 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 tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, a cytokine with several effects on the neuroimmune system, were found on human lymphocytes. In the present study, we assayed TNF-alpha binding on peripheral blood T-cells from MG patients, finding that T-cells from patients have significantly more TNF-alpha receptors than those from controls (Bmax: 654 +/- 12 vs. 133 +/- 4 (mean +/- SEM) receptors/cell). Such TNF-alpha binding sites are of the same type in patients and healthy subjects (Kd: 68.7 +/- 4.3 vs. 70.1 +/- 4.8 (mean +/- SEM) pM). The enhanced T-cell TNF-alpha binding is due to an increased number of TNF-alpha 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 TNF-alpha receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, University of Pisa, Italy. bongioanni@sssup1.sssup.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bongioanni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Romano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha