Decreased frequency of intrathymic regulatory T cells in patients with myasthenia-associated thymoma.
Naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) are essential for the control of unwanted autoimmune responses. In this study, we analysed their frequency in peripheral blood and in the thymus/thymomas of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). We found a marked decrease in the number of CD4+CD25+ thymocytes in MG-associated thymomas, but no differences in the peripheral compartment, suggesting that the thymic development of Treg might be impaired in these patients.
Luther
C
C
Department of General Neurology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Tuebingen University Hospital, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 27, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Poeschel
S
S
Varga
M
M
Melms
A
A
Tolosa
E
E
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013945:Thymoma / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D015703:Antigens, CD