Decreased mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-10 in non-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells in myasthenia gravis

Authors: Huang, W.; Huang, P.; Fredrikson, S.; Pirskanen, R.; Hillert, J.

Source: European Journal of Neurology, Volume 7, Number 2, 1 March 2000 , pp. 195-202(8)

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Abstract:

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is characterized by T cell-dependent autoantibodies to the acetylcholine receptor on the post-synaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction. The production of autoantibodies is regulated by T cells via cytokines. To investigate the involvement of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in MG, the mRNA levels of these cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells without stimulation in vitro were quantified by competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction technique. The mRNA level of TNF-α was significantly lower (P = 0.0004) in the overall group of MG patients compared with controls. IL-10 was also lower in MG patients (P = 0.008), most markedly in non-thymectomized patients (P = 0.016). There were no significant differences in IFN-γ and IL-4 between patients and healthy controls, but the mRNA levels of IL-4 in non-thymectomized patients was significantly lower than in controls (P = 0.02) and in thymectomized patients (P = 0.03). These results, reflecting the in vivo expression pattern of these cytokines in the periphery, suggest an altered cytokine expression at the systemic level in MG.

Keywords: interferon gamma; interleukin-10; interleukin-4; myasthenia gravis; tumour necrosis factor alpha

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2000-03-01