Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
3065683 Journal of Neuroimmunology 2007 9 Pages PDF
Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease. AChR-specific autologous helper T (Th) cells are essential to the pathogenesis of MG. Factors correlated with the development of childhood-onset MG are unknown. In longitudinal studies, we found TCR Vβ 2/5.1/6/7 usage in the development or relapse phases, but not in the remission phase. We also found that TCR Vβ 8/9/13.1/15/18/20 usage persisted. The polyclonally expanded TCR Vβ 2/5.1/6/7 by CDR3 spectratyping was found to be associated with the development of disease. These data suggest that in patients with childhood-onset MG, stimuli such as superantigens induced by a preceding infection, which cause development of the polyclonal pattern in TCR Vβ families, play an important role in the development of the disease.

Related Topics
Life Sciences Immunology and Microbiology Immunology
Authors
, , , , , ,