PMID: 8972746Dec 1, 1996Paper

Anti-idiotypic T cells in early stages of myasthenia gravis: increase in the number and prevalence correlated to clinical improvement in patients

Scandinavian Journal of Immunology
Q YiA K Lefvert

Abstract

An idiotypic network involving T and B cells bearing complementary structures has been suggested to be important for the regulation of immune response in healthy and disease situations. A previous study by the authors has demonstrated the presence of a relatively higher concentration of anti-idiotypic antibodies than of idiotypic in early myasthenia gravis (MG), suggesting that the development of an anti-idiotypic immunity is important in early MG. The present study was conducted to examine the cellular components of the idiotypic network in the same situation. T and B cells reactive to acetylcholine receptor (AChR) or to a disease-related idiotype and to an anti-idiotype were analysed in seven patients with early MG at various times after the start of the disease. The results show that a significant increase in the number of idiotype-reactive interferon-gamma-secreting T cells and a shift from AChR-reactive to idiotype- and/or anti-idiotype-reactive T cells in the patients at 6 month follow-up were noted. Such changes seem to correlate to a clinical improvement in the patients. The enhanced anti-idiotypic T-cell response and the clinical improvement in the patients may speak in favour of a role for the anti-idiotypic immunity ...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 1, 1997·Journal of Neuroimmunology·R AhlbergA K Lefvert
Oct 1, 2007·Nutrition Research and Practice·Kyung Eui HongHyojee Joung
Mar 13, 2018·Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society·Won-Sang ChoUNKNOWN Korean Stroke Society and Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine

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