title: CD4+FoxP3+T regulatory cell subsets in myasthenia gravis patients.
abstract: Although myasthenia gravis (MG) is a classic autoantibody-mediated disease, T cells are centrally involved in its pathogenesis. In recent years a number of studies have analyzed the role of CD4+FoxP3+regulatory T cells (Treg) in the disease with contradictory results. Here, the generation of Tregwas significantly reduced in thymoma as compared to thymic hyperplasia and normal thymus tissue (p=0.0002). In the peripheral blood, Tregsubsets classified according to CD49d, HELIOS and CD45RA expression changed after thymectomy and in the long-term course of immunosuppression. Compared to healthy volunteers the frequency of CD45RA+FoxP3lowTregwas reduced in MG patients in general (p=0.037) and in particular in patients without immunosuppression (p=0.036). In our study, thymectomy and immunosuppressive treatment were associated with changes in Tregsubpopulations. The reduced frequency of CD45RA+FoxP3lowTregwe observed in MG patients might play a role in MG pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Neurology, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: siegfried.kohler@charite.de.
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohler
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Neurology, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas Oskar Philipp
authors.initials: TOP
authors.lastname: Keil
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Neurology, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Division, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Swierzy
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Division, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Division, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens Carsten
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rückert
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Neurology, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meisel
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013934:Thymectomy; D013945:Thymoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013952:Thymus Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: Autoimmunity; Myasthenia gravis; Regulatory T cells; Thymus