title: B cells produce less IL-10, IL-6 and TNF-α in myasthenia gravis.
abstract: B cells from myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with autoantibodies (Aab) against acetylcholine receptor (AChR), muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) or with no detectable Aab were investigated as cytokine producing cells in this study. B cells were evaluated for memory phenotypes and expressions of IL-10, IL-6 and IL-12A. Induced productions of IL-10, IL-6, IL-12p40, TNF-α and LT from isolated B cells in vitro were measured by immunoassays. MG patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment had higher proportions of memory B cells compared with healthy controls and untreated patients. With CD40 stimulation MG patients produced significantly lower levels of IL-10, IL-6. With CD40 and B cell receptor stimulation of B cells, TNF-α production also decreased in addition to these cytokines. The lower levels of these cytokine productions were not related to treatment. Our results confirm a disturbance of B cell subpopulations in MG subgroups on immunosuppressive treatment. B cell derived IL-10, IL-6 and TNF-α are down-regulated in MG, irrespective of different antibody productions. Ineffective cytokine production by B cells may be a susceptibility factor in dysregulation of autoimmune Aab production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology , and.
authors.forename: Vuslat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Piraye
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oflazer
authors.forename: Fikret
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aysal
authors.forename: Yeşim G
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Parman
authors.forename: Haner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Direskeneli
authors.forename: Feza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deymeer
authors.forename: Güher
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saruhan-Direskeneli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D010641:Phenotype; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10
keywords: Autoantibody; B cell; cytokine; myasthenia gravis