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Functional defect in regulatory T cells in myasthenia gravis
Author(s) -
Thiruppathi Muthusamy,
Rowin Julie,
Li Jiang Qin,
Sheng Jian Rong,
Prabhakar Bellur S.,
Meriggioli Matthew N.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2012.06840.x
Subject(s) - foxp3 , myasthenia gravis , immunology , immune system , immunosuppression , microbiology and biotechnology , t cell , biology , regulatory t cell , in vitro , pathogenesis , immune tolerance , il 2 receptor , genetics
Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) is a transcription factor necessary for the function of regulatory T cells (T reg cells). T reg cells maintain immune homeostasis and self‐tolerance and play an important role in the prevention of autoimmune disease. Here, we discuss the role of T reg cells in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis (MG) and review evidence indicating that a significant defect in T reg cell in vitro suppressive function exists in MG patients, without an alteration in circulating frequency. This functional defect is associated with a reduced expression of key functional molecules, such as FOXP3 on isolated T reg cells, and appears to be more pronounced in immunosuppression‐naive MG patients. In vitro administration of granulocyte macrophage–colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) enhanced the suppressive function of T reg cells and upregulated FOXP3 expression. These findings indicate a clinically relevant T reg cell–intrinsic defect in immune regulation in MG that may reveal a novel therapeutic target.