Perivascular infiltrate of memory lymphocytes and mature dendritic cells in MG thymomas

Neurology. 2005 Sep 13;65(5):770-2. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000174560.35190.84.

Abstract

In thymomas associated with myasthenia gravis (MG), the authors found that perivascular infiltrates of memory lymphocytes and mature dendritic cells (DCs) were more frequent in patients with early improvement after thymectomy than in patients without response to thymectomy. Although these findings may be limited to particular types of thymoma, thymectomy may interrupt the recruitment of mature DCs in thymus and export of activated T cells to extra-thymic tissues, thereby improving the disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Autoimmunity / immunology
  • Blood Vessels / immunology
  • Blood Vessels / pathology
  • Blood Vessels / physiopathology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / complications*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Thymectomy
  • Thymoma / complications
  • Thymoma / immunology*
  • Thymoma / physiopathology
  • Thymus Gland / blood supply
  • Thymus Gland / immunology
  • Thymus Gland / physiopathology

Substances

  • Receptors, Cholinergic