Heterogeneity of immunopathological features of AChR/MuSK autoantibody-negative myasthenia gravis

J Neuroimmunol. 2007 Sep;189(1-2):163-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2007.07.007. Epub 2007 Aug 15.

Abstract

We compared B cells and germinal centers in thymus from myasthenia gravis (MG) patients either with anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) autoantibodies or with neither anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) nor anti-AChR (seronegative MG: SN-MG). The numbers and frequencies of total and germinal center B cells varied in the SN-MG thymi, some of which were normal/atrophic. Others were clearly hyperplastic, their B cell parameters overlapping with those in AChR-positive MG, which implicates the thymus in pathogenesis. Indeed, some SN-MG patients apparently benefited from thymectomy, which should be considered a management option.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry / methods
  • Germinal Center / immunology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / pathology*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / immunology*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology*
  • Thymectomy / methods
  • Thymus Gland / pathology*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • MUSK protein, human
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases