Immune activation in myasthenia gravis: soluble interleukin-2 receptor, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in patients' serum

J Neuroimmunol. 1993 Oct;48(1):33-6. doi: 10.1016/0165-5728(93)90055-4.

Abstract

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were evaluated in serum from patients affected by myasthenia gravis (MG). sIL-2R titers were significantly increased in generalized and bulbar MG patients while ocular cases were not different from controls. Patients showing a recent clinical worsening had significantly higher sIL-2R titers when compared to the whole MG population. sIL-2R levels did not correlate with the corresponding anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody titer (Anti-AChR Ab). IFN-gamma was not detected in serum of both MG patients and healthy subjects while TNF-alpha levels were not statistically different from controls. The finding of increased sIL-2R levels supports the hypothesis of circulating activated autoreactive T cells in myasthenic patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / blood*
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / blood
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / analysis*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / analysis*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interferon-gamma

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