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Abnormal T‐Cell Expansion and V‐Gene Usage in Myasthenia Gravis Patients
Author(s) -
GRUNEWALD J.,
ÅHLBERG R.,
LEFVERT A.K.,
DERSIMONIAN H.,
WIGZELL H.,
JANSON C. H.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1991.tb01533.x
Subject(s) - myasthenia gravis , cd8 , t cell receptor , t cell , immunofluorescence , monoclonal antibody , immunology , gene , indirect immunofluorescence , biology , t lymphocyte , human leukocyte antigen , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , antigen , genetics , immune system
To determine the extent of V‐gene heterogeneity of blood T lymphocytes in patients suffering from Myasthenia Gravis (MG), we used eight recently available monoclonal antibodies (MoAb), directed against different Vα and Vβ gene products of the variable part of the T‐cell receptor (TCR), covering approximately 25% of the α/β T cells in normal peripheral blood (PBL) of healthy individuals. Using a two‐colour immunofluorescence method, we could calculate the expression of α/β V segments within the two major T‐cell subsets, CD4 ‐ /CD8 + and CD4 + /CD8 ‐ lymphocytes. Twenty‐seven per cent (4/15) of the MG patients had T cells showing signs of abnormal expansion. Furthermore, among these expanded T cells, a restricted Vβ12 gene expansion could be seen, in three out of four patients. No correlation between TCR V‐gene usage and HLA haplotypes (HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐DR and ‐DQ) could be seen. Our data suggest that the majority of MG patients have abnormally expanded T‐cell clones. The relevance of these findings is discussed.