Effects of FK506 on myasthenia gravis patients with high interleukin-2 productivity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
We compared the early effects of FK506 on clinical severity, interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMs), and serum levels of acetylcholine receptor antibodies between myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with elevated (>1250 pg/ml, n = 9) or normal (<1250 pg/mL, n = 10) levels of PBM IL-2 production. Reduction in clinical severity and PBM IL-2 production were significantly greater in the patients with elevated IL-2 production than those with normal PBM IL-2 production in the first month of treatment.
Utsugisawa
Kimiaki
K
Department of Neurology, Iwate Medical University, Uchimaru 19-1, Morioka 020-8505, Japan.
Nagane
Yuriko
Y
Yonezawa
Hisashi
H
Obara
Daiji
D
Kondoh
Ryushi
R
Tohgi
Hideo
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D016559:Tacrolimus