title: Interleukine-6 (IL-6) may be a link between myasthenia gravis and myoepithelioma of the parotid gland.
abstract: Myoepithelioma is a rare benign neoplasm of the salivary glands occurring more frequently in the parotids. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic, T-cell dependent, antibody and complement-mediated autoimmune neuromuscular transmission disorder. Interleukine-6 (IL-6) is an immune protein belonging to the family of the hematopoietins, liberated in response to infection, burns, trauma, and neoplastic diseases. It seems that an overproduction of IL-6 might play an important role in the pathophysiology of MG. Moreover, it has been discussed the possible role of IL-6 as a modulating factor either in proliferation or in differentiation of pleomorphic adenoma cell line into myoepithelioma. The authors present a rare case of parotid myoepithelioma occurred in a patient affected by myasthenia gravis and suppose a possible IL-6 mediated relationship between myasthenia gravis and parotid myoepithelioma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University La Sapienza of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 121, 00161 Roma, RM, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sassano
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paparo
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramieri
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Colangeli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verdino
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6