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  • Title: Monoclonal antibody analysis of blood T-cell subsets in myasthenia gravis.
    Author: Skolnik PR, Lisak RP, Zweiman B.
    Journal: Ann Neurol; 1982 Feb; 11(2):170-6. PubMed ID: 6462101.
    Abstract:
    Analysis of peripheral blood T -cell subsets and B-cells in patients with myasthenia gravis was performed using monoclonal antibodies and antibody against surface immunoglobulins (SIg) in an immunofluorescent technique. We found a modest but significant decrease in percentages of OKT3- and OKT8-positive cells (thought to represent total T-cells and T-suppressor/cytotoxic cells, respectively) in myasthenics as a group. The percentage of OKT3-positive cells was significantly decrease in patients with late-onset disease (greater than 35 years old), while the percentage of OKT8-positive cells was significantly reduced in those with early-onset myasthenia (greater than 35 years old). Both thymectomized and nonthymectomized patients exhibited a decreased percentage of OKT3-positive cells. No significant difference was found between the percentages of SIg-positive cells in myasthenics and controls. Our results suggest that only modest imbalances of circulating immunoregulatory lymphocytes occur in myasthenia gravis; however, it is conceivable that the small differences observed in this study may reflect pathogenetically important reductions in a functionally distinct lymphocyte subpopulation.
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