An Increase in Circulating B Cell–Activating Factor in Childhood-Onset Ocular Myasthenia Gravis - 14/03/15
, Takafumi Nishimura, Norimoto Kobayashi, MD PhD, Yozo Nakazawa, MD PhD, Kenichi Koike, MD PhDAbstract |
Background |
Myasthenia gravis is a B cell–mediated autoimmune disorder. The pathophysiology of childhood-onset ocular myasthenia gravis remains unclear. We investigated serum B cell–activating factor levels and other immunological parameters in child patients with ocular myasthenia gravis.
Methods |
Blood samples were obtained from 9 children with ocular myasthenia gravis and 20 age-matched controls. We assayed serum concentrations of B cell–activating factor, anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody titers, 7 types of cytokines (interleukins-2, -4, -6, -10, and -17A; interferon-γ; tumor necrosis factor-α) as well as the percentages of peripheral blood CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ cells.
Results |
Serum B cell–activating factor levels were significantly higher before immunosuppressive therapy in patients with childhood-onset ocular myasthenia gravis than in controls and decreased after immunosuppressive therapy. A significant positive correlation was observed between serum B cell–activating factor levels and anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody titers in patients with myasthenia gravis. Serum B cell–activating factor concentrations did not correlate with the percentages of CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ cells or the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. No significant differences were observed in the levels of the 7 different types of cytokines examined, including interleukin-17A, between preimmunosuppressive therapy myasthenia gravis patients and controls.
Conclusions |
Circulating B cell–activating factor may play a key role in the pathophysiology of childhood-onset ocular myasthenia gravis.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Keywords : childhood-onset ocular myasthenia gravis, B-cell activating factor, IL-17, Th17
Plan
Vol 52 - N° 4
P. 404-409 - avril 2015 Retour au numéro
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