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Peng Y, Yang H, Chen Q, Jin H, Xue YH, Du MQ, Liu S, Yao SY. An angel or a devil? Current view on the role of CD8 + T cells in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis. J Transl Med 2024; 22:183. [PMID: 38378668 PMCID: PMC10877804 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-04965-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myasthenia gravis (MG) and the experimental autoimmune MG (EAMG) animal model are characterized by T-cell-induced and B-cell-dominated autoimmune diseases that affect the neuromuscular junction. Several subtypes of CD4+ T cells, including T helper (Th) 17 cells, follicular Th cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs), contribute to the pathogenesis of MG. However, increasing evidence suggests that CD8+ T cells also play a critical role in the pathogenesis and treatment of MG. MAIN BODY Herein, we review the literature on CD8+ T cells in MG, focusing on their potential effector and regulatory roles, as well as on relevant evidence (peripheral, in situ, cerebrospinal fluid, and under different treatments), T-cell receptor usage, cytokine and chemokine expression, cell marker expression, and Treg, Tc17, CD3+CD8+CD20+ T, and CXCR5+ CD8+ T cells. CONCLUSIONS Further studies on CD8+ T cells in MG are necessary to determine, among others, the real pattern of the Vβ gene usage of autoantigen-specific CD8+ cells in patients with MG, real images of the physiology and function of autoantigen-specific CD8+ cells from MG/EAMG, and the subset of autoantigen-specific CD8+ cells (Tc1, Tc17, and IL-17+IFN-γ+CD8+ T cells). There are many reports of CD20-expressing T (or CD20 + T) and CXCR5+ CD8 T cells on autoimmune diseases, especially on multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately, up to now, there has been no report on these T cells on MG, which might be a good direction for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Peng
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated First Hospital of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan, China.
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan, China.
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Quan Chen
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated First Hospital of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan, China
| | - Hong Jin
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated First Hospital of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan, China
| | - Ya-Hui Xue
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated First Hospital of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan, China
| | - Miao-Qiao Du
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated First Hospital of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan, China
| | - Shu Liu
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated First Hospital of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan, China
| | - Shun-Yu Yao
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated First Hospital of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan, China
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Zhong H, Zhao C, Luo S. HLA in myasthenia gravis: From superficial correlation to underlying mechanism. Autoimmun Rev 2019; 18:102349. [DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2019.102349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Wallin EF, Hill DL, Linterman MA, Wood KJ. The Calcineurin Inhibitor Tacrolimus Specifically Suppresses Human T Follicular Helper Cells. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1184. [PMID: 29904381 PMCID: PMC5990622 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are key players in the production of antibody-producing B cells via the germinal center reaction. Therapeutic strategies targeting Tfh cells are important where antibody formation is implicated in disease, such as transplant rejection and autoimmune diseases. We investigated the impact of the immunosuppressive agent tacrolimus on human Tfh cell differentiation and function in transplant recipients. Methods Paired blood and lymph node (LN) samples were obtained from 61 transplant recipients immediately prior to organ implantation. Living-donor recipients received a week of tacrolimus prior to kidney transplantation. Deceased-donor recipients served as controls, as tacrolimus was not administered until after the transplant operation. Flow cytometry was used to compare LN and circulating cell subsets. Results The calcineurin inhibitor (CNIs) tacrolimus specifically suppresses both LN Tfh cells and circulating Tfh cells, but not their regulatory counterparts or other CD4 T cell subsets. Conclusion Our findings suggest that CNIs may have a more important role in the prevention of antibody formation than previously understood and, therefore, have potential for antibody-associated conditions in which aberrant Tfh function has been implicated in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth F Wallin
- Transplant Research Immunology Group, Nuffield Department Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Danika L Hill
- Lymphocyte Signalling ISP, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Kathryn J Wood
- Transplant Research Immunology Group, Nuffield Department Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Development of T follicular helper cells and their role in disease and immune system. Biomed Pharmacother 2016; 84:1668-1678. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.10.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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Fozza C, Barraqueddu F, Corda G, Contini S, Virdis P, Dore F, Bonfigli S, Longinotti M. Study of the T-cell receptor repertoire by CDR3 spectratyping. J Immunol Methods 2016; 440:1-11. [PMID: 27823906 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2016.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The T-cell receptor (TCR) is the key player within the so called immunological synapse and the analysis of its repertoire offers a picture of both versatility and wideness of the whole immune T-cell compartment. Among the different approaches applied to its study the so-called spectratyping identifies the pattern of the third complementarity determining region (CDR3) length distribution in each one of the beta variable (TRBV) subfamilies encoded by the corresponding genes. This technique consists in a CDR3 fragment analysis through capillary electrophoresis, performed after cell separation, RNA extraction and reverse transcriptase PCR. This review will run through the most relevant studies which have tried to dissect the TCR repertoire usage in patients with different immune-mediated and infective diseases as well as solid or haematologic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Fozza
- Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 12, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
| | - Francesca Barraqueddu
- Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 12, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Giovanna Corda
- Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 12, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Salvatore Contini
- Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 12, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Patrizia Virdis
- Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 12, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Fausto Dore
- Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 12, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Silvana Bonfigli
- Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 12, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Maurizio Longinotti
- Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 12, 07100 Sassari, Italy
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Guptill JT, Juel VC, Massey JM, Anderson AC, Chopra M, Yi JS, Esfandiari E, Buchanan T, Smith B, Atherfold P, Jones E, Howard JF. Effect of therapeutic plasma exchange on immunoglobulins in myasthenia gravis. Autoimmunity 2016; 49:472-479. [PMID: 27684107 DOI: 10.1080/08916934.2016.1214823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
An integrated understanding of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) effects on immunoglobulins, autoantibodies, and natural or acquired (vaccine) protective antibodies in patients with autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) is lacking. Prior studies measured TPE effects in healthy volunteers or heterogeneous autoimmune disease populations. We prospectively profiled plasma IgA, IgM, IgG, IgG subclasses (IgG1-4), acetylcholine receptor autoantibodies (AChR+), and protective antibodies in patients with AChR + MG receiving TPE for an exacerbation. TPE was performed according to institutional practice and patients were profiled for up to 12 weeks. Ten patients were enrolled (median age = 72.9 years; baseline MG-Composite = 21; median TPE treatments = 6 during their first course) and all improved. The maximum decrease in all immunoglobulins, including AChR autoantibodies, was achieved on the final day of the first TPE course (∼60-70% reduction). Three weeks post-TPE, mean AChR autoantibody, total IgG, IgG1, and IgG2 titers were below the reference range and had not recovered within 20% of baseline, whereas other measured immunoglobulins approached baseline values. We did not generally observe an "overshoot" of immunoglobulins above pre-TPE levels or accelerated recovery of pathologic AChR autoantibodies. Protective antibody profiles showed similar patterns as other IgGs and were detectable at levels associated with protection from infection. A slow return to baseline for IgGs (except IgG3) was observed, and we did not observe any obvious effect of concomitant medications on this recovery. Collectively, these findings enhance our understanding of the immunological effects of TPE and further support the concept of rapid immunoglobulin depletion for the treatment of patients with MG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey T Guptill
- a Division of Neuromuscular Disease, Department of Neurology , Duke University Medical Center , Durham , NC , USA
| | - Vern C Juel
- a Division of Neuromuscular Disease, Department of Neurology , Duke University Medical Center , Durham , NC , USA
| | - Janice M Massey
- a Division of Neuromuscular Disease, Department of Neurology , Duke University Medical Center , Durham , NC , USA
| | - Amanda C Anderson
- a Division of Neuromuscular Disease, Department of Neurology , Duke University Medical Center , Durham , NC , USA
| | - Manisha Chopra
- b Neuromuscular Disorders Section, Department of Neurology , The University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA
| | - John S Yi
- c Division of Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery , Duke University Medical Center , Durham , NC , USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - James F Howard
- b Neuromuscular Disorders Section, Department of Neurology , The University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA
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A novel infection- and inflammation-associated molecular signature in peripheral blood of myasthenia gravis patients. Immunobiology 2016; 221:1227-36. [PMID: 27387891 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2016.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a T-cell dependent autoimmune disorder of the neuromuscular junction, characterised by muscle weakness and fatigability. Autoimmunity is thought to initiate in the thymus of acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-positive MG patients; however, the molecular mechanisms linking intra-thymic MG pathogenesis with autoreactivity via the circulation to the muscle target organ are poorly understood. Using whole-transcriptome sequencing, we compared the transcriptional profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from AChR-early onset MG (AChR-EOMG) patients with healthy controls: 178 coding transcripts and 229 long non-coding RNAs, including 11 pre-miRNAs, were differentially expressed. Among the 178 coding transcripts, 128 were annotated of which 17% were associated with the 'infectious disease' functional category and 46% with 'inflammatory disease' and 'inflammatory response-associated' categories. Validation of selected transcripts by qPCR indicated that of the infectious disease-related transcripts, ETF1, NFKB2, PLK3, and PPP1R15A were upregulated, whereas CLC and IL4 were downregulated in AChR-EOMG patients; in the 'inflammatory' categories, ABCA1, FUS, and RELB were upregulated, suggesting a contribution of these molecules to immunological dysfunctions in MG. Data selection and validation were also based on predicted microRNA-mRNA interactions. We found that miR-612, miR-3654, and miR-3651 were increased, whereas miR-612-putative AKAp12 and HRH4 targets and the miR-3651-putative CRISP3 target were downregulated in AChR-EOMG, also suggesting altered immunoregulation. Our findings reveal a novel peripheral molecular signature in AChR-EOMG, reflecting a critical involvement of inflammatory- and infectious disease-related immune responses in disease pathogenesis.
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Hennerici T, Pollmann R, Schmidt T, Seipelt M, Tackenberg B, Möbs C, Ghoreschi K, Hertl M, Eming R. Increased Frequency of T Follicular Helper Cells and Elevated Interleukin-27 Plasma Levels in Patients with Pemphigus. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0148919. [PMID: 26872212 PMCID: PMC4752242 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 01/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Pemphigus is an autoimmune disease in which IgG auto-antibodies (auto-ab) against the desmosomal cadherins desmoglein (Dsg) 3 and Dsg1 cause loss of epidermal keratinocyte adhesion. Aim of this study was to investigate cytokines derived from antigen-presenting cells (APC) and their relation to CD4+ T cell subpopulations and to the auto-ab response in pemphigus. In this regard, patients with pemphigus were compared to patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), an unrelated auto-ab–mediated autoimmune disease, and healthy controls. In pemphigus and MG, the plasma concentrations of the APC-derived immunomodulatory cytokine IL-27 were highly increased. Strikingly, IL-27 strongly correlated with Dsg-specific IgG auto-ab titers. T helper (Th) 17 cells were augmented in both pemphigus and MG patients while T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, which are essential in providing B cell help, were increased only in pemphigus along with increasing plasma concentrations of IL-21, a cytokine produced by Th17 and Tfh cells. Moreover, we could detect Dsg3-specific autoreactive T cells producing IL-21 upon ex vivo stimulation with Dsg3. These findings suggest that IL-27 and IL-21-producing T cells, are involved in the pathogenesis of pemphigus. The further characterization of IL-21-producing T cells and of the role of IL-27 will lead to a more defined understanding of the auto-ab response in pemphigus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Hennerici
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Robert Pollmann
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Schmidt
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Maria Seipelt
- Department of Neurology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Björn Tackenberg
- Department of Neurology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christian Möbs
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Kamran Ghoreschi
- Department of Dermatology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael Hertl
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Eming
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Seldin MF, Alkhairy OK, Lee AT, Lamb JA, Sussman J, Pirskanen-Matell R, Piehl F, Verschuuren JJGM, Kostera-Pruszczyk A, Szczudlik P, McKee D, Maniaol AH, Harbo HF, Lie BA, Melms A, Garchon HJ, Willcox N, Gregersen PK, Hammarstrom L. Genome-Wide Association Study of Late-Onset Myasthenia Gravis: Confirmation of TNFRSF11A and Identification of ZBTB10 and Three Distinct HLA Associations. Mol Med 2015; 21:769-781. [PMID: 26562150 DOI: 10.2119/molmed.2015.00232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
To investigate the genetics of late-onset myasthenia gravis (LOMG), we conducted a genome-wide association study imputation of>6 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 532 LOMG cases (anti-acetylcholine receptor [AChR] antibody positive; onset age≥50 years) and 2,128 controls matched for sex and population substructure. The data confirm reported TNFRSF11A associations (rs4574025, P = 3.9 × 10-7, odds ratio [OR] 1.42) and identify a novel candidate gene, ZBTB10, achieving genome-wide significance (rs6998967, P = 8.9 × 10-10, OR 0.53). Several other SNPs showed suggestive significance including rs2476601 (P = 6.5 × 10-6, OR 1.62) encoding the PTPN22 R620W variant noted in early-onset myasthenia gravis (EOMG) and other autoimmune diseases. In contrast, EOMG-associated SNPs in TNIP1 showed no association in LOMG, nor did other loci suggested for EOMG. Many SNPs within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region showed strong associations in LOMG, but with smaller effect sizes than in EOMG (highest OR ~2 versus ~6 in EOMG). Moreover, the strongest associations were in opposite directions from EOMG, including an OR of 0.54 for DQA1*05:01 in LOMG (P = 5.9 × 10-12) versus 2.82 in EOMG (P = 3.86 × 10-45). Association and conditioning studies for the MHC region showed three distinct and largely independent association peaks for LOMG corresponding to (a) MHC class II (highest attenuation when conditioning on DQA1), (b) HLA-A and (c) MHC class III SNPs. Conditioning studies of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) amino acid residues also suggest potential functional correlates. Together, these findings emphasize the value of subgrouping myasthenia gravis patients for clinical and basic investigations and imply distinct predisposing mechanisms in LOMG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael F Seldin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, and Department of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Omar K Alkhairy
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Annette T Lee
- The Robert S. Boas Center for Genomics and Human Genetics, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-LIJ Health System, Manhasset, New York, United States of America
| | - Janine A Lamb
- Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jon Sussman
- Department of Neurology, Greater Manchester Neuroscience Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Fredrik Piehl
- Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Piotr Szczudlik
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - David McKee
- Department of Neurology, Greater Manchester Neuroscience Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Angelina H Maniaol
- Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hanne F Harbo
- Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Benedicte A Lie
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Arthur Melms
- Department of Neurology, Tübingen University Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany, and Neurologische Klinik, Universitàtsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Nicholas Willcox
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Weatherall Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Peter K Gregersen
- The Robert S. Boas Center for Genomics and Human Genetics, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-LIJ Health System, Manhasset, New York, United States of America
| | - Lennart Hammarstrom
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
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Sorigué M, Juncà J, Marcé S, Cabezón M, García O, Zamora L. The role of T-cell phenotype and T-cell receptor rearrangement in the diagnosis of T-cell malignancies. Leuk Lymphoma 2015; 57:244-6. [PMID: 25956041 DOI: 10.3109/10428194.2015.1046865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Sorigué
- a Department of Hematology , ICO-Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Badalona , Spain
| | - Jordi Juncà
- b Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, ICO-Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Badalona , Spain
| | - Silvia Marcé
- b Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, ICO-Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Badalona , Spain
| | - Marta Cabezón
- b Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, ICO-Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Badalona , Spain
| | - Olga García
- b Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, ICO-Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Badalona , Spain
| | - Lurdes Zamora
- b Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, ICO-Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Badalona , Spain
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Zhang DQ, Wang R, Li T, Li X, Qi Y, Wang J, Yang L. Remarkably increased resistin levels in anti-AChR antibody-positive myasthenia gravis. J Neuroimmunol 2015; 283:7-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Revised: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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12
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Shao L, Lie AKW, Zhang Y, Wong CH, Kwong YL. Aberrant germinal center formation, follicular T-helper cells, and germinal center B-cells were involved in chronic graft-versus-host disease. Ann Hematol 2015; 94:1493-504. [DOI: 10.1007/s00277-015-2394-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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13
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Marx A, Porubsky S, Belharazem D, Saruhan-Direskeneli G, Schalke B, Ströbel P, Weis CA. Thymoma related myasthenia gravis in humans and potential animal models. Exp Neurol 2015; 270:55-65. [PMID: 25700911 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2014] [Revised: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Thymoma-associated Myasthenia gravis (TAMG) is one of the anti-acetylcholine receptor MG (AChR-MG) subtypes. The clinico-pathological features of TAMG and its pathogenesis are described here in comparison with pathogenetic models suggested for the more common non-thymoma AChR-MG subtypes, early onset MG and late onset MG. Emphasis is put on the role of abnormal intratumorous T cell selection and activation, lack of intratumorous myoid cells and regulatory T cells as well as deficient expression of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) by neoplastic thymic epithelial cells. We review spontaneous and genetically engineered thymoma models in a spectrum of animals and the extensive clinical and immunological overlap between canine, feline and human TAMG. Finally, limitations and perspectives of the transplantation of human and murine thymoma tissue into nude mice, as potential models for TAMG, are addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Marx
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 13, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Stefan Porubsky
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 13, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Djeda Belharazem
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 13, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Güher Saruhan-Direskeneli
- Department of Physiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa 34093, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Berthold Schalke
- Department of Neurology, Bezirkskrankenhaus, University of Regensburg, D-93042 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University of Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Cleo-Aron Weis
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 13, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany.
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CTLA-4 controls follicular helper T-cell differentiation by regulating the strength of CD28 engagement. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 112:524-9. [PMID: 25548162 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1414576112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is an essential regulator of T-cell responses, and its absence precipitates lethal T-cell hyperactivity. However, whether CTLA-4 acts simply to veto the activation of certain clones or plays a more nuanced role in shaping the quality of T-cell responses is not clear. Here we report that T cells in CTLA-4-deficient mice show spontaneous T-follicular helper (T(FH)) differentiation in vivo, and this is accompanied by the appearance of large germinal centers (GCs). Remarkably, short-term blockade with anti-CTLA-4 antibody in wild-type mice is sufficient to elicit T(FH) generation and GC development. The latter occurs in a CD28-dependent manner, consistent with the known role of CTLA-4 in regulating the CD28 pathway. CTLA-4 can act by down-regulating CD80 and CD86 on antigen presenting cells (APCs), thereby altering the level of CD28 engagement. To mimic reduced CD28 ligation, we used mice heterozygous for CD28, revealing that the magnitude of CD28 engagement is tightly linked to the propensity for T(FH) differentiation. In contrast, other parameters of T-cell activation, including CD62L down-regulation and Ki67 expression, were relatively insensitive to altered CD28 level. Altered T(FH) generation as a result of graded reduction in CD28 was associated with decreased numbers of GC B cells and a reduction in overall GC size. These data support a model in which CTLA-4 control of immunity goes beyond vetoing T-cell priming and encompasses the regulation of T(FH) differentiation by graded control of CD28 engagement.
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Li YJ, Zhang F, Qi Y, Chang GQ, Fu Y, Su L, Shen Y, Sun N, Borazanci A, Yang C, Shi FD, Yan Y. Association of circulating follicular helper T cells with disease course of NMO spectrum disorders. J Neuroimmunol 2014; 278:239-46. [PMID: 25468778 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2014.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Revised: 10/05/2014] [Accepted: 11/09/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
While follicular helper T (Tfh) cells have been shown to be involved in many autoimmune diseases, the association of Tfh cells with the disease activity of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) remains unclear. In this study, the CD4(+)CXCR5(+)PD-1(+) Tfh cell population in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from NMOSD patients, age- and gender-matched healthy controls, and multiple sclerosis patients was compared by flow cytometry. The serum levels of IL-21, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α and IL-10 were analyzed by ELISA assays. We found that in NMOSD, the Tfh cell frequency is higher than that of healthy subjects and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. There are more Tfh cells in the relapsing stage than the remitting stage of NMOSD, thus demonstrating the close association of the Tfh cell population with disease activity. Methylprednisolone, which is used to control disease relapses, significantly decreased the proportion of Tfh cells in NMOSD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jing Li
- Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Fang Zhang
- Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Yuan Qi
- Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Guo-Qiang Chang
- Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Ying Fu
- Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Lei Su
- Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Yi Shen
- Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Na Sun
- Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Aimee Borazanci
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Chunsheng Yang
- Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Fu-Dong Shi
- Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China; Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Yaping Yan
- Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
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Yusuf I, Stern J, McCaughtry TM, Gallagher S, Sun H, Gao C, Tedder T, Carlesso G, Carter L, Herbst R, Wang Y. Germinal center B cell depletion diminishes CD4+ follicular T helper cells in autoimmune mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e102791. [PMID: 25101629 PMCID: PMC4125140 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 06/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Continuous support from follicular CD4+ T helper (Tfh) cells drives germinal center (GC) responses, which last for several weeks to produce high affinity memory B cells and plasma cells. In autoimmune Sle1 and NZB/W F1 mice, elevated numbers of Tfh cells persist, promoting the expansion of self-reactive B cells. Expansion of circulating Tfh like cells have also been described in several autoimmune diseases. Although, the signals required for Tfh differentiation have now been well described, the mechanisms that sustain the maintenance of fully differentiated Tfh are less understood. Recent data demonstrate a role for GC B cells for Tfh maintenance after protein immunization. Methods and Finding Given the pathogenic role Tfh play in autoimmune disease, we explored whether B cells are required for maintenance of autoreactive Tfh. Our data suggest that the number of mature autoreactive Tfh cells is controlled by GC B cells. Depletion of B cells in Sle1 autoimmune mice leads to a dramatic reduction in Tfh cells. In NZB/W F1 autoimmune mice, similar to the SRBC immunization model, GC B cells support the maintenance of mature Tfh, which is dependent mainly on ICOS. The CD28-associated pathway is dispensable for Tfh maintenance in SRBC immunized mice, but is required in the spontaneous NZB/W F1 model. Conclusion These data suggest that mature Tfh cells require signals from GC B cells to sustain their optimal numbers and function in both autoimmune and immunization models. Thus, immunotherapies targeting B cells in autoimmune disease may affect pathogenic Tfh cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isharat Yusuf
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Research, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jessica Stern
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Research, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Tom M McCaughtry
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Research, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sandra Gallagher
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Research, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Hong Sun
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Research, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Changshou Gao
- Department of Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thomas Tedder
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Gianluca Carlesso
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Research, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Laura Carter
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Research, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ronald Herbst
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Research, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Research, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
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Marino M, Maiuri MT, Di Sante G, Scuderi F, La Carpia F, Trakas N, Provenzano C, Zisimopoulou P, Ria F, Tzartos SJ, Evoli A, Bartoccioni E. T cell repertoire in DQ5-positive MuSK-positive myasthenia gravis patients. J Autoimmun 2014; 52:113-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2013.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2013] [Accepted: 12/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Nogales-Gadea G, Ramos-Fransi A, Suárez-Calvet X, Navas M, Rojas-García R, Mosquera JL, Díaz-Manera J, Querol L, Gallardo E, Illa I. Analysis of serum miRNA profiles of myasthenia gravis patients. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91927. [PMID: 24637658 PMCID: PMC3956820 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies, mainly against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). The mechanisms triggering and maintaining this chronic disease are unknown. MiRNAs are regulatory molecules that play a key role in the immune system and are altered in many autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate miRNA profiles in serum of 61 AChR MG patients. We studied serum from patients with early onset MG (n = 22), late onset MG (n = 27) and thymoma (n = 12), to identify alterations in the specific subgroups. In a discovery cohort, we analysed 381 miRNA arrays from 5 patients from each subgroup, and 5 healthy controls. The 15 patients had not received any treatment. We found 32 miRNAs in different levels in MG and analysed 8 of these in a validation cohort that included 46 of the MG patients. MiR15b, miR122, miR-140-3p, miR185, miR192, miR20b and miR-885-5p were in lower levels in MG patients than in controls. Our study suggests that different clinical phenotypes in MG share common altered mechanisms in circulating miRNAs, with no additional contribution of the thymoma. MG treatment intervention does not modify the profile of these miRNAs. Novel insights into the pathogenesis of MG can be reached by the analysis of circulating miRNAs since some of these miRNAs have also been found low in MG peripheral mononuclear cells, and have targets with important roles in B cell survival and antibody production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisela Nogales-Gadea
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de enfermedades neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alba Ramos-Fransi
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de enfermedades neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Xavier Suárez-Calvet
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de enfermedades neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miquel Navas
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de enfermedades neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricard Rojas-García
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de enfermedades neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Jordi Díaz-Manera
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de enfermedades neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Querol
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de enfermedades neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduard Gallardo
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de enfermedades neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Illa
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de enfermedades neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Tfh Cell Differentiation and Their Function in Promoting B-Cell Responses. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 841:153-80. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-9487-9_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Punga T, Le Panse R, Andersson M, Truffault F, Berrih-Aknin S, Punga AR. Circulating miRNAs in myasthenia gravis: miR-150-5p as a new potential biomarker. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2013; 1:49-58. [PMID: 25356381 PMCID: PMC4207504 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Revised: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 12/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune disorder where autoantibodies target the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChR+) in about 85% of cases, in which the thymus is considered to play a pathogenic role. As there are no reliable biomarkers to monitor disease status in MG, we analyzed circulating miRNAs in sera of MG patients to find disease-specific miRNAs. Methods Overall, 168 miRNAs were analyzed in serum samples from four AChR+ MG patients and four healthy controls using Exiqon Focus miRNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Panel I + II. Specific accumulation pattern of 13 miRNAs from the discovery set was subsequently investigated in the sera of 16 AChR+ MG patients and 16 healthy controls. All patients were without immunosuppressive treatment. Selected specific miRNAs were further analyzed in the serum of nine MG patients before and after thymectomy to assess the effect of thymus removal on the accumulation of the candidate miRNAs in patient sera. Results Three miRNAs were specifically dysregulated in AChR+ MG patient sera samples. Hsa-miR150-5p, which induces T-cell differentiation, as well as hsa-miR21-5p, a regulator of Th1 versus Th2 cell responses, were specifically elevated in MG sera. Additionally, hsa-miR27a-3p, involved in natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, was decreased in MG. Hsa-miR150-5p levels had the highest association with MG and were significantly reduced after thymus removal in correlation with disease improvement. Interpretation We propose that the validated miRNAs: hsa-miR150-5p, hsa-miR21-5p, and hsa-miR27a-3p can serve as novel serum biomarkers in AChR+ MG. Hsa-miR-150-5p could be a helpful marker to monitor disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanel Punga
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University BMC Box 582, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rozen Le Panse
- INSERM U974, CNRS UMR 7215, Institut de Myologie, UPMC Univ Paris 6 Paris, France
| | | | - Frédérique Truffault
- INSERM U974, CNRS UMR 7215, Institut de Myologie, UPMC Univ Paris 6 Paris, France
| | - Sonia Berrih-Aknin
- INSERM U974, CNRS UMR 7215, Institut de Myologie, UPMC Univ Paris 6 Paris, France
| | - Anna R Punga
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Institute of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
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Chuang WY, Ströbel P, Bohlender-Willke AL, Rieckmann P, Nix W, Schalke B, Gold R, Opitz A, Klinker E, Inoue M, Müller-Hermelink HK, Saruhan-Direskeneli G, Bugert P, Willcox N, Marx A. Late-onset myasthenia gravis - CTLA4(low) genotype association and low-for-age thymic output of naïve T cells. J Autoimmun 2013; 52:122-9. [PMID: 24373506 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2013.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2013] [Accepted: 12/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Late-onset myasthenia gravis (LOMG) has become the largest MG subgroup, but the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms remain mysterious. Among the few etiological clues are the almost unique serologic parallels between LOMG and thymoma-associated MG (TAMG), notably autoantibodies against acetylcholine receptors, titin, ryanodine receptor, type I interferons or IL-12. This is why we checked LOMG patients for two further peculiar features of TAMG - its associations with the CTLA4(high/gain-of-function) +49A/A genotype and with increased thymic export of naïve T cells into the blood, possibly after defective negative selection in AIRE-deficient thymomas. We analyzed genomic DNA from 116 Caucasian LOMG patients for CTLA4 alleles by PCR/restriction fragment length polymorphism, and blood mononuclear cells for recent thymic emigrants by quantitative PCR for T cell receptor excision circles. In sharp contrast with TAMG, we now find that: i) CTLA4(low) +49G(+) genotypes were more frequent (p = 0.0029) among the 69 LOMG patients with age at onset ≥60 years compared with 172 healthy controls; ii) thymic export of naïve T cells from the non-neoplastic thymuses of 36 LOMG patients was lower (p = 0.0058) at diagnosis than in 77 age-matched controls. These new findings are important because they suggest distinct initiating mechanisms in TAMG and LOMG and hint at aberrant immuno-regulation in the periphery in LOMG. We therefore propose alternate defects in central thymic or peripheral tolerance induction in TAMG and LOMG converging on similar final outcomes. In addition, our data support a 60-year-threshold for onset of 'true LOMG' and an LOMG/early-onset MG overlapping group of patients between 40 and 60.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Yu Chuang
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Anna-Lena Bohlender-Willke
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Peter Rieckmann
- Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Wilfred Nix
- Department of Neurology, University of Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, D-55101 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Berthold Schalke
- Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, Bezirkskrankenhaus, D-93042 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Ralf Gold
- Department of Neurology, University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Andreas Opitz
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Erdwine Klinker
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Masayoshi Inoue
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
| | | | - Güher Saruhan-Direskeneli
- Department of Physiology, University of Istanbul, Istanbul Tip Fakultesi, Temel Bilimler, 34093 CAPA-Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Peter Bugert
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Immunology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Nick Willcox
- Department of Clinical Neurology, Weatherall Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, WIMM, Headington OX3 9DS, UK.
| | - Alexander Marx
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany.
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Human T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and disease. Immunol Cell Biol 2013; 92:64-71. [PMID: 24145858 DOI: 10.1038/icb.2013.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Revised: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 09/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The generation of protective antibodies by B cells following natural infection or vaccination requires 'help' from CD4(+) T cells. T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are the specialized CD4(+) T cell subset that has evolved the appropriate mechanisms to induce the activation and differentiation of B cells into immunoglobulin (Ig) secreting cells. As such, appropriate control of Tfh cell generation and function is essential to human health as overactivation is likely to result in autoimmunity, whereas underactivation is often associated with immunodeficiency. Furthermore, an understanding of the regulation of these cells may be invaluable to improved vaccine development strategies. Traditionally Tfh cells have been identified by their anatomical location in secondary lymphoid tissues, which has hindered the study of these cells in humans as access to these tissues is often not feasible. However, recent studies have identified the circulating counterparts to tissue Tfh cells and with this has come a wealth of knowledge gained from the study of these cells in human disease. Here we review some of the recent developments on the role of human Tfh cells in health and disease.
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The good, the bad and the ugly — TFH cells in human health and disease. Nat Rev Immunol 2013; 13:412-26. [DOI: 10.1038/nri3447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 405] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Becker A, Ludwig N, Keller A, Tackenberg B, Eienbröker C, Oertel WH, Fassbender K, Meese E, Ruprecht K. Myasthenia gravis: analysis of serum autoantibody reactivities to 1827 potential human autoantigens by protein macroarrays. PLoS One 2013; 8:e58095. [PMID: 23483977 PMCID: PMC3587426 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2012] [Accepted: 02/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myasthenia gravis is a disorder of neuromuscular transmission associated with autoantibodies against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. We have previously developed a customized protein macroarray comprising 1827 potential human autoantigens, which permitted to discriminate sera of patients with different cancers from sera of healthy controls, but has not yet been evaluated in antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases. OBJECTIVE To determine whether autoantibody signatures obtained by protein macroarray separate sera of patients with myasthenia gravis from healthy controls. METHODS Sera of patients with acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive myasthenia gravis (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 32) were analyzed by protein macroarrays comprising 1827 peptide clones. RESULTS Autoantibody signatures did not separate patients with myasthenia gravis from controls with sufficient sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Intensity values of one antigen (poly A binding protein cytoplasmic 1, p = 0.0045) were higher in patients with myasthenia gravis, but the relevance of this and two further antigens, 40S ribosomal protein S13 (20.8% vs. 0%, p = 0.011) and proteasome subunit alpha type 1 (25% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.035), which were detected more frequently by myasthenia gravis than by control sera, currently remains uncertain. CONCLUSION Seroreactivity profiles of patients with myasthenia gravis detected by a customized protein macroarray did not allow discrimination from healthy controls, compatible with the notion that the autoantibody response in myasthenia gravis is highly focussed against the acetylcholine receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Becker
- Department of Human Genetics, Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Ludwig
- Department of Human Genetics, Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg, Germany
| | | | - Björn Tackenberg
- Clinical Neuroimmunology Group, Department of Neurology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christian Eienbröker
- Clinical Neuroimmunology Group, Department of Neurology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang H. Oertel
- Clinical Neuroimmunology Group, Department of Neurology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Fassbender
- Department of Neurology, Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg, Germany
| | - Eckart Meese
- Department of Human Genetics, Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg, Germany
| | - Klemens Ruprecht
- Department of Neurology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Gradolatto A, Nazzal D, Foti M, Bismuth J, Truffault F, Panse RL, Berrih-Aknin S. Defects of immunoregulatory mechanisms in myasthenia gravis: role of IL-17. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2012; 1274:40-7. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2012.06791.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Huber M, Heink S, Pagenstecher A, Reinhard K, Ritter J, Visekruna A, Guralnik A, Bollig N, Jeltsch K, Heinemann C, Wittmann E, Buch T, Prazeres da Costa O, Brüstle A, Brenner D, Mak TW, Mittrücker HW, Tackenberg B, Kamradt T, Lohoff M. IL-17A secretion by CD8+ T cells supports Th17-mediated autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Clin Invest 2012; 123:247-60. [PMID: 23221338 DOI: 10.1172/jci63681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2012] [Accepted: 10/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
IL-17-producing CD8+ T (Tc17) cells are detectible in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions; however, their contribution to the disease is unknown. To identify functions of Tc17 cells, we induced EAE, a murine model of MS, in mice lacking IFN regulatory factor 4 (IRF4). IRF4-deficient mice failed to generate Tc17 and Th17 cells and were resistant to EAE. After adoptive transfer of WT CD8+ T cells and subsequent immunization for EAE induction in these mice, the CD8+ T cells developed a Tc17 phenotype in the periphery but could not infiltrate the CNS. Similarly, transfer of small numbers of WT CD4+ T cells alone did not evoke EAE, but when transferred together with CD8+ T cells, IL-17-producing CD4+ (Th17) T cells accumulated in the CNS and mice developed severe disease. Th17 accumulation and development of EAE required IL-17A production by CD8+ T cells, suggesting that Tc17 cells are required to promote CD4+ T cell-mediated induction of EAE. Accordingly, patients with early-stage MS harbored a greater number of Tc17 cells in the cerebrospinal fluid than in peripheral blood. Our results reveal that Tc17 cells contribute to the initiation of CNS autoimmunity in mice and humans by supporting Th17 cell pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Huber
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
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Zhou J, Ma R, Luo R, Sun Y, He X, Sun W, Tang W, Yao X. Primary exploration of CDR3 spectratyping and molecular features of TCR β chain in the peripheral blood and tissue of patients with colorectal carcinoma. Cancer Epidemiol 2010; 34:733-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2010.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2010] [Revised: 05/26/2010] [Accepted: 06/20/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Marx A, Willcox N, Leite MI, Chuang WY, Schalke B, Nix W, Ströbel P. Thymoma and paraneoplastic myasthenia gravis. Autoimmunity 2010; 43:413-27. [PMID: 20380583 DOI: 10.3109/08916930903555935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Paraneoplastic autoimmune diseases associate occasionally with small cell lung cancers and gynecologic tumors. However, myasthenia gravis (MG) occurs in at least 30% of all patients with thymomas (usually present at MG diagnosis). These epithelial neoplasms almost always have numerous admixed maturing polyclonal T cells (thymocytes). This thymopoiesis-and export of mature CD4(+)T cells-particularly associates with MG, though there are rare/puzzling exceptions in apparently pure epithelial WHO type A thymomas. Other features potentially leading to inefficient self-tolerance induction include defective epithelial expression of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene and/or of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules in thymomas, absence of myoid cells, failure to generate FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells, and genetic polymorphisms affecting T-cell signaling. However, the strong focus on MG/neuromuscular targets remains unexplained and suggests some biased autoantigen expression, T-cell selection, or autoimmunization within thymomas. There must be further clues in the intriguing serological and cellular parallels in some patients with late-onset MG but without thymomas-and in others with AIRE mutations-and in the contrasts with early-onset MG, as discussed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Marx
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany.
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Chkalina AV, Zviagin IV, Mamedov IZ, Britanova OV, Staroverov DB, Lebedev IB. [The oligoclonal expansion of T cells: study of its stability over time]. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2010; 36:206-14. [PMID: 20531479 DOI: 10.1134/s1068162010020081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A novel experimental approach to the investigation of the repertoire of peripheral T lymphocytes of patients suffering from ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is proposed. This approach is based on the wide-range sequencing of cDNA of the beta-chain of the T-cellular receptor (TcR). The results of the analysis of the diversity of sequences of the TcR antigen-binding domain (CDR3) inside the total pool of one patient with AS are presented by the example of the second V family (BV2) of TcR. The expansion of six independent TcR-expressing clones of T cells with a similar amino acid sequence of the CDR3 domains was proposed based on the results of the comparative structural analysis of the clone libraries of the cDNA of TcR BV2. The long-time stable expansion of these T clones was demonstrated during the development of the disease by specific monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Chkalina
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow, 117997 Russia.
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Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular junction disease mediated by antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). The etiology and immunopathogenesis of MG remain unclear. Recent research has shown the involvement of autoantibodies, lymphocytes, cytokines and chemokines, in the pathogenesis of MG. Systematic factors are also demonstrated, such as inheritance and endocrine. This review indicates the research development in immunopathogenesis of MG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Huang
- The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
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Yang JZ, Li MW, Wang JG, Lu HF, Yao XS, He JQ, Li LJ. Rapid detection of clonal expansion of T-cell receptor-beta gene in patients with HBV using the real-time PCR with DNA melting curve analysis. Hepatol Res 2010; 40:407-14. [PMID: 20070405 DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2009.00600.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
AIM The gene melting spectral pattern (GMSP) of PCR products from 24 T-cell receptor beta chain variable (TCRBV) gene families was developed to determine sequence bias and feature of TCRBV CDR3 gene family. METHODS The assay was based on reverse transcript quantitative polymerase chain reaction and their DNA melting curves. RESULTS We discovered that the relatively conserved amino acid sequences X-Q and X-G are present in TCRBV CDR3 from patients with HBV. Further, the X of the X-Q motif is preferentially E (glutamic acid), P (proline) or T (threonine) when accompanied by the BJ2.7, BJ1.5, or BJ2.3, respectively. The frequency of sequence bias in the TCRBV gene family showed a positive correlation with the T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) content, and an inverse correlation with the HBV DNA loading. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the GMSP assay could be used to monitor the features of TCRBV gene distribution quickly, and facilitate the further study of HBV-specific T cell in patients with HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie-Zuan Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou
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Expanded TCR Vβ subsets of CD8+ T-cells in late-onset myasthenia gravis: Novel parallels with thymoma patients. J Neuroimmunol 2009; 216:85-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2009.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2009] [Revised: 08/26/2009] [Accepted: 08/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Root-Bernstein R. Autoreactive T-cell receptor (Vbeta/D/Jbeta) sequences in diabetes are homologous to insulin, glucagon, the insulin receptor, and the glucagon receptor. J Mol Recognit 2009; 22:177-87. [PMID: 19051206 DOI: 10.1002/jmr.930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The hypervariable (Vbeta/D/Jbeta) regions of T-cell receptors (TCR) have been sequenced in a variety of autoimmune diseases by various investigators. An analysis of some of these sequences shows that TCR from both human diabetics and NOD mice mimic insulin, glucagon, the insulin receptor, and the glucagon receptor. Such similarities are not found in the TCR produced in other human autoimmune diseases. These data may explain how insulin, glucagon, and their receptors are targets of autoimmunity in diabetes and also suggest that TCR mimicking insulin and its receptor may be targets of anti-insulin autoantibodies. Such intra-systemic mimicry of self-proteins also raises complex questions about how "self" and "nonself" are regulated during TCR production, especially in light of the complementarity of insulin for its receptor and glucagon for its receptor. The data presented here suggest that some TCR may be complementary to other TCR in autoimmune diseases, a possibility that is experimentally testable. Such complementarity, if it exists, could either serve to down-regulate the clones bearing such TCR or, alternatively, trigger an intra-immune system civil war between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Root-Bernstein
- Department of Physiology, 2174 Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
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Hohlfeld R, Wekerle H. Reflections on the "intrathymic pathogenesis" of myasthenia gravis. J Neuroimmunol 2008; 201-202:21-7. [PMID: 18644632 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2008.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2008] [Revised: 05/13/2008] [Accepted: 05/13/2008] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The beneficial effects of thymectomy argue for a causal role of the thymus in myasthenia gravis (MG). The MG thymus contains acetylcholine receptor (AChR), which is expressed by myoid cells (whole AChR), and by medullary thymic epithelial cells (AChR subunits). The myoid cells are closely associated with antigen-presenting dendritic cells, helper T cells, and antibody-producing B cells in lymphoid follicles ("lymphofollicular hyperplasia"). Thus, all the cellular components required to initiate and maintain an autoimmune response to AChR are present in the MG thymus. It is unlikely that the cellular alterations in the thymus are secondary to an ongoing peripheral immune response, because they are absent in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reinhard Hohlfeld
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Max-Planck Institute of Neurobiology, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The cause of Tourette syndrome (TS) is not precisely known, although several lines of evidence point at an involvement of the immune system in its pathogenesis. RESULTS Here, we report the results of a pilot study investigating frequently analysed lymphocyte surface markers in 20 adult patients with TS (16 males; 37.3 +/- 15.8 years) and 20 matched controls (16 males; 37.5 +/- 15.3 years). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences for the investigated lymphocyte surface markers. The difference in CD69+/CD22+-B cells (23.0 +/- 10.5% vs. 13.1 +/- 6.1%; P = 0.001) and in CD95+/CD4+-T cells (41.5 +/- 12.1% vs. 24.6 +/- 10.0%; P = 0.0001) was still significant after Bonferroni-Holm correction. CONCLUSION Our preliminary data indicate that TS may be associated with an increased peripheral immune activity.
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Li X, Xiao BG, Xi JY, Lu CZ, Lu JH. Decrease of CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ regulatory T cells and elevation of CD19+BAFF-R+ B cells and soluble ICAM-1 in myasthenia gravis. Clin Immunol 2008; 126:180-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2007.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2007] [Revised: 09/12/2007] [Accepted: 10/03/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Sommer N, Tackenberg B, Hohlfeld R. The immunopathogenesis of myasthenia gravis. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2008; 91:169-212. [PMID: 18631843 DOI: 10.1016/s0072-9752(07)01505-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Sommer
- Clinical Neuroimmunology Group, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
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Thymopoiesis, regulatory T cells, and TCRVbeta expression in thymoma with and without myasthenia gravis, and modulatory effects of steroid therapy. J Clin Immunol 2007; 28:194-206. [PMID: 18000743 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-007-9147-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2007] [Accepted: 10/16/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
We analyzed thymocyte and thymic regulatory T cell (CD4SPCD25+Foxp3+cells, Treg) development in thymoma with and without myasthenia gravis (MG, MG-thymoma, non-MG-thymoma) and in MG-associated non-neoplastic thymus (MG-NNT). An increased number of immature CD4+CD8(-)CD3(-) thymocytes through the CD4+CD8+ to CD4+CD8(-) transition and an abnormal T cell receptor Vbeta (TCRVbeta) development through the CD4+CD8+ to CD4(-)CD8+ transition were seen both in MG-and non-MG-thymomas. Terminal thymopoiesis, i.e., CD45RA+ cells within the CD4+CD8(-)CD3+ and CD8+CD4(-)CD3+ subsets, was skewed towards the CD4+ compartment in MG-thymoma and CD8+ compartment in non-MG-thymoma, but thymic export was increased only in the latter in keeping with the hypothesis that CD8+ lymphocytes may play a role in the initial stages of autosensitization and in disagreement with the relevance of an increased output of CD4+ T lymphocytes in paraneoplastic MG. Treg level in normal thymus and MG-NNT and both MG- and non-MG-thymoma was similar, and TCRVbeta development in Treg cells was slightly altered in thymoma but irrespective of MG presence. Thus, the relevance of a defective Treg development in MG context remains to be established. Most alterations in thymopoiesis were corrected by therapeutic corticosteroid administration, and the effects of steroid administration may be mediated by thymic microenvironment.
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