title: Clinical efficacy and cytokine network-modulating effects of tacrolimus in myasthenia gravis.
abstract: To clarify the long-term efficacy, safety and the cytokine network-modulating effects of tacrolimus in myasthenia gravis, medical records of 86 newly diagnosed consecutive patients and nine steroid-dependent patients were retrospectively reviewed, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured for the cytokine profile. Steroid reduction effects were observed by using tacrolimus, and no serious adverse effects were observed. The culture study showed reduced IL-12, IL-17, IFN-gamma, GM-CSF, TNF-alpha and MIP-1beta, and elevated IL-10 in the PBMC from patients who received tacrolimus, which suggests inhibition of T cells and macrophages, and enhancement of type 1 regulatory T cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurobiology of Aging, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwasa
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000906:Antibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011239:Prednisolone; D016559:Tacrolimus