Selective loss of regulatory T cells in thymomas.

Ströbel, Philipp; Rosenwald, Andreas; Beyersdorf, Niklas; Kerkau, Thomas; Elert, Olaf; Murumägi, Astrid; Sillanpää, Niko; Peterson, Pärt et al. · Ann Neurol · 2004

case_control · Level III

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Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is the prime autoimmune manifestation of thymomas. We investigated the generation of T cells with a regulatory phenotype (T(R)) in thymomas with and without associated MG. In patients with MG(+) thymomas, maturation and export of T(R) cells but not of other T-cell subsets was significantly reduced. We conclude that imbalance between effector and regulatory T cells in thymomas may be involved in modulation of onset and/or severity of MG.

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