Idiotype- and anti-idiotype-reactive T lymphocytes in myasthenia gravis. Evidence for the involvement of different subpopulations of T helper lymphocytes

J Immunol. 1994 Oct 1;153(7):3353-9.

Abstract

Patients with myasthenia gravis have peripheral blood T cells that are stimulated to secrete IFN-gamma and IL-2 by human monoclonal anti-acetylcholine receptor and anti-idiotypic Abs. The human CD4+ Th cells may be subdivided into different subsets according to the pattern of cytokine production. To elucidate the subgroup of T cells involved in myasthenia gravis, we have analyzed IL-4-, IFN-gamma-, and IL-2-secretion patterns induced by two human disease-specific mAbs, one idiotypic and one anti-idiotypic Ab. T cells stimulated to secrete one or more of the cytokines were found in 33 of 34 patients. The idiotypic Ab stimulated IL-4 secretion in 19 of 34 patients, IFN-gamma secretion in 26 of 34 patients, and IL-2 secretion in 25 of 34. The anti-idiotypic Ab induced IL-4 secretion in 9 of 34 patients, IFN-gamma secretion in 29 of 34 patients, and IL-2 secretion in 28 of 34 patients. These T cell responses were MHC class II-restricted. According to the cytokine-secretion patterns, Id-reactive T cells might correspond to both Th1/Th2 and/or Th0 cells. The anti-idiotypic Ab more frequently induced a Th1-type response. This study indicates that different subsets of T lymphocytes are involved in the idiotypic network in myasthenia gravis, and that these functionally different T cells may participate in the immunoregulation of the disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Female
  • HLA-D Antigens / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Autoantibodies
  • HLA-D Antigens
  • Immunoglobulin Idiotypes
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Interleukin-2
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma