Decreased frequency of intrathymic regulatory T cells in patients with myasthenia-associated thymoma

C Luther; S Poeschel; M Varga; A Melms; E Tolosa

doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2005.03.011

Decreased frequency of intrathymic regulatory T cells in patients with myasthenia-associated thymoma

J Neuroimmunol. 2005 Jul;164(1-2):124-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2005.03.011.

Authors

C Luther¹, S Poeschel, M Varga, A Melms, E Tolosa

Affiliation

¹ Department of General Neurology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Tuebingen University Hospital, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 27, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.

PMID: 15923045
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2005.03.011

Abstract

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.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Age of Onset
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Antigens, CD / metabolism
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
Female
Flow Cytometry / methods
Humans
Immunohistochemistry / methods
Male
Middle Aged
Myasthenia Gravis / complications
Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
Myasthenia Gravis / pathology*
Thymoma / complications
Thymoma / immunology
Thymoma / pathology*
Thymus Neoplasms / complications
Thymus Neoplasms / immunology
Thymus Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

Antigens, CD