title: Cytokine secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in myasthenia gravis.
abstract: We studied spontaneous secretion of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChRAb), IgG and cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 19 MG patients without therapy and 10 normal controls. IgG secretion was higher in the culture medium of MG than in that of normal controls. AChRAb secretion was correlated with IgG secretion in MG. Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha secreted by PBMC from MG patients were not different from those produced by those from normal controls. IgG secretion was, however, correlated with the secretions of IL-5 and IL-6 in MG. Spontaneous B cell activation was suspected in patients with MG.
authors.affiliation: Health Service Center, Kanazawa University, Kakumamachi, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan. hiroaki@kenroku.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Katsuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasukawa
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000097:blood; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic