Undiminished regulatory T cells in the thymus of patients with myasthenia gravis

• DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181d31e47
• Publication Date: 2010-03-08T21:58:19Z
• Authors: N. Matsui; S. Nakane; F. Saito; I. Ohigashi; Y. Nakagawa; H. Kurobe; H. Takizawa; T. Mitsui; K. Kondo; T. Kitagawa; Y. Takahama; R. Kaji
• Keywords: Thymectomy

<b>Objective:</b> The thymus has been implicated as a possible site of origin that triggers autoimmunity in myasthenia gravis (MG). Although several groups have suggested the decrease number regulatory T (Treg) cells contributes to onset MG, exact role Treg MG remains unclear. To address this point, we examined and distribution large patients with MG. <b>Methods:</b> Immunohistofluorescence analysis Foxp3 along CD4 CD8 was performed thymic sections (+) (n = 24) (−) 27). Circulating CD4⁺CD25⁺ peripheral blood 15) age-matched healthy subjects were also analyzed. <b>Results:</b> Foxp3⁺CD4⁺CD8⁻ predominantly found medulla their declined age. There no significant difference or between patients. circulating not significantly altered compared subjects. <b>Conclusion:</b> cellularity circulation is diminished gravis.