Abstract
Costimulatory stromal receptors were identified in thymuses and myasthenia gravis (MG)-associated thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) by immunohistochemistry. ICAM-1 occurred in areas with medullary or cortical differentiation of TETs and thymuses. B7 and LFA-3, absent in the normal cortex, were hyperexpressed in cortical type TETs. VCAM-1, confined to endothelium and dendritic cells in cortex and medulla, was focally expressed by epithelial cells of a medullary thymoma. We suggest that aberrantly expressed costimulatory molecules may contribute to the pathogenesis of paraneoplastic MG by an intratumorous activation of mature T cells.
Publication types
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Clinical Trial
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Controlled Clinical Trial
MeSH terms
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Antigens, CD / analysis
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Antigens, CD / biosynthesis
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CD58 Antigens
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Cell Adhesion Molecules / analysis
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Cell Adhesion Molecules / biosynthesis*
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Division
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Gene Expression
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Humans
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Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / analysis
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Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / biosynthesis
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Membrane Glycoproteins / analysis
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Membrane Glycoproteins / biosynthesis
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Reference Values
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T-Lymphocytes / cytology
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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T-Lymphocytes / pathology*
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Thymoma / immunology
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Thymoma / pathology*
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Thymoma / physiopathology
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Thymus Neoplasms / immunology
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Thymus Neoplasms / pathology*
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Thymus Neoplasms / physiopathology
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Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
Substances
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Antigens, CD
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CD58 Antigens
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Cell Adhesion Molecules
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
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Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1