Up-regulation of MHC class I and class II in the skeletal muscles of myasthenia gravis

J Neuroimmunol. 2010 Aug 25;225(1-2):171-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.04.017. Epub 2010 May 23.

Abstract

The up-regulation of MHC in muscles is thought to be associated with inflammatory myopathies. The expression of MHC class I and class II was examined in muscles of myasthenia gravis (MG). MG muscle specimens from all 5 patients with thymoma and 2 of 5 without thymoma showed MHC class I up-regulation and 3 of 5 with thymoma showed MHC class II. The up-regulation of MHC in MG muscles is thus considered to be a common phenomenon. MG muscles expressed not only MHC class I but also class II, and these muscles could thus act as immunoregulating cells in MG.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • HLA-A Antigens / metabolism
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / complications
  • Myasthenia Gravis / pathology*
  • Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / metabolism
  • Thymoma / complications
  • Thymoma / pathology
  • Up-Regulation / physiology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • HLA-A Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens