[Detection of memory T cells, follicular T cells and relevant cytokines in the peripheral blood of patients with myasthenia gravis during treatment].

Objective The variations in T cell subset composition and levels of inflammatory cytokines and acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody during the interval for myasthenia gravis (MG) patients were evaluated to investigate regulatory roles of in the pathogenesis of MG. Methods Thirty patients with MG and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Flow cytometry was employed to detect the frequencies of CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, central memory T cells (CD4CD45ROCCR7, Tcm), effector memory T cells (CD4CD45ROCCR7, Tem), follicular helper T cells (CD4CXCR5, Tfh) and follicular regulatory T cells (CD4CXCR5 FOXP3 , Tfr) in the peripheral blood. The levels of interleukin 2(IL-2), IL-4, IL-12, IL-17 and interferon γ (IFN-γ) in the peripheral blood were determined by cytometric beads array (CBA). The levels of IL-7 and anti-AChR antibody were measured with ELISA. Results No obvious differences were observed in the frequencies of Tfh, Tem, CD8 T cells and CD4 T cells, and the ratio of CD4/CD8 in the peripheral blood of MG patients, compared with HCs. MG subjects presented notably decreased frequencies of Tcm and increased frequencies of Tfr compared with HCs. In addition, elevated levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-12, IL-17 and IFN-γ and lowered levels of IL-7 were observed in the plasma of MG individuals, compared with HCs. No significant correlations were found among the levels of cytokines and frequencies of T cell subsets. No significant changes were found in AChR antibody levels. Conclusion The results suggest a unique spectrum of the memory T cells and follicular T cells, together with a unique cytokine profile in the MG individuals during treatment.