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- Title
Thymopoiesis, Regulatory T Cells, and TCRVβ Expression in Thymoma With and Without Myasthenia Gravis, and Modulatory Effects of Steroid Therapy.
- Authors
Andrea Fattorossi; Alessandra Battaglia; Alexia Buzzonetti; Giacomo Minicuci; Raffaella Riso; Laura Peri; Giovanni Scambia; Amelia Evoli
- Abstract
Abstract  We analyzed thymocyte and thymic regulatory T cell (CD4SPCD25ᚌ槟陛, 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 CD4âCD3â thymocytes through the CD4 to CD4â transition and an abnormal T cell receptor Vβ (TCRVβ) development through the CD4 to CD4âCD8 transition were seen both in MG-and non-MG-thymomas. Terminal thymopoiesis, i.e., CD45RA cells within the CD4âCD3 and CD8࠾âCD3 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 TCRVβ 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.
- Subjects
MYASTHENIA gravis; T cell receptors; STEROID drugs; NEUROMUSCULAR diseases
- Publication
Journal of Clinical Immunology, 2008, Vol 28, Issue 2, p194
- ISSN
0271-9142
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10875-007-9147-2