Altered levels of nerve growth factor in the thymus of subjects with myasthenia gravis

Stampachiacchiere, Barbara; Marinova, Ts.; Velikova, Kamelia; Philipov, Stanislav; Stankulov, Ivan S.; Chaldakov, George N.; Fiore, M.; Aloe, Luigi

doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2003.10.048

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…However, the high number of MCs observed in the chick embryo thymus-coupled with the ultrastructural features of MC degranulation and the close relationship between MCs and the extracellular matrixdeserves special attention and suggests some possible, still unknown, MC functions during thymic organogenesis. MCs synthesize and release a large panel of growth factor peptides and cytokines-such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, a IL-7-like cytokine, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-a, granulocyte-monocyte colonystimulating factor (GM-CSF), and nerve growth factor (NGF)-which prevent thymocyte apoptosis and stimulate thymocyte and thymic epithelial cell functions (Durkin and Waksman 2001;Stampachiacchiere et al 2004;Soumelis and Liu 2004). Thus, MCs might represent a rich source of cytokines for thymic cells during embryonic stages.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The thymus is a site of mast cell development in chicken embryos

et al. 2004

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Thymic mast cells were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy in chicken embryos during organogenesis. Mast cells made their first appearance at day 15. At days 16 and 17, there was a burst of mast cell development with a peak of 278 +/- 54 cells/mm(2) at day 16. Then, mast cell density decreased until hatching. During the whole embryonic period, about 80% of mast cells localized to the thymic medulla. In the cortex, they were less numerous, and some rare mast cells could be identified in the capsule and septa. Thymic mast cells could be recognized in association with hematopoietic foci, but frequently they grew independently from areas of hematopoiesis and appeared as single cells interspersed among thymocytes, thymic epithelial cells, and interdigitating cells. They were often recognized in close relationship with the scanty and delicate extracellular matrix of the developing gland. Viewed by electron microscopy, mast cells were relatively small cells, with a few secretory granules. Exocytosis was never seen, but, notably, granules emptied in a piecemeal degranulation fashion. This study demonstrates that the chicken thymus is a site of mast cell development during embryogenesis. The high mast cell density we found suggests a possible role for these cells during thymus organogenesis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The thymus is a site of mast cell development in chicken embryos

et al. 2004

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“…The mast cells are cells characterized by a constant dynamic state that render quite difficult to precisely quantify their structural disregulation and histochemistry differences, particularly under pathological conditions [3,4]. Using biochemical, molecular, immunohistochemical and immunogold electron microscope methodology we found that resident thymic cells, such as epithelial cells and mast cells of healthy subjects and of subjects affected by Myasthenia gravis are able to produce NGF [24]. We demonstrated that NGF and NGF receptors are overexpressed in the thymic cells, including mast cells of patients with Myasthenia gravis compared to control subjects [22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…All values are presented as means T standard error of mean (SEM). When p<0,005, differences were considered to be statistically significant [11,24]. The results for patients with acute infection were compared to those for healthy children using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test according to the Visual Statistics System ViSta http:// www.uv.es/prodat/ViSta/vista-frames/help/lecturenotes/ lecture09/lec9part4.html).…”

Section: Microscopymentioning

confidence: 99%

Nerve Growth Factor Immunoreactivity of Mast Cells in Acute Involuted Human Thymus

Marinova¹,

Philipov²,

Aloe

2006

Inflammation

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The acute involution of the thymus is induced by either exogenous or endogenous factors, including some infections (infection type involution). The present study was focused on both detection and immunocytochemical analysis of NGF immunopositive mast cells in child thymus with acute infection-induced involution. Autopsy thymus specimens from children with infection diseases (Sepsis, Encephalomyelitis, Varicella) were examined at light and electron microscopic level and compared to normal infantile thymuses. We observed a redistribution of NGF immunopositive mast cells in infection-affected child thymus, which lobular architecture was collapsed. A positive correlation between the degree of the involutive changes, increased distribution and enhanced NGF immunoreactivity of mast cells was defined. The possible involvement of NGF immunopositive mast cells in the process of acute thymus involution is discussed.

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“…We have previously reported that in the thymus of patients with myasthenia gravis the nerve growth factor and its receptors were overexpressed, suggesting that they might stimulate cellular regeneration or prevent thymic cell degeneration (20, 21). Here we present data for the expression of HBGA in hyperplastic thymus, which shows a heterogeneity regarding HC and lymphocytes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modulation of ABH histo‐blood group antigen expression in normal and myasthenic human thymus

Sarafian

Marinova

2006

APMIS

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The role of ABH histo-blood group antigens (HBGA) in intercellular communication during normal and pathological processes is still uncertain. The present work investigates the expression of ABH HBGA in epithelial cells and lymphocytes in normal thymus, and characterizes the modulation of their immunoreactivity during myasthenic transformation. Immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy were applied on normal young thymus and on myasthenia gravis-associated thymomas and thymic hyperplasias. The Hassall's corpuscules in the thymus of young individuals were homogeneously stained for HBGA, while in hyperplastic glands only their central part was positive. Stromal epithelial cells permanently expressed HBGA in all tissue samples. In thymomas, mainly the lymphocytes in close proximity to antigen expressing epithelial cells were positive, while in the hyperplastic gland the most intensely stained lymphocytes were those within Hassall's corpuscules. Novel evidence for modulation of ABH antigen reactivity in normal and myasthenic human thymus is presented. It suggests that HBGA might participate in the regulation of the cross-talk in the thymocyte microenvironment throughout the ontogeny, as well as during the myasthenic transformation.

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Altered levels of nerve growth factor in the thymus of subjects with myasthenia gravis

Cited by 10 publications

References 15 publications

The thymus is a site of mast cell development in chicken embryos

The thymus is a site of mast cell development in chicken embryos

Nerve Growth Factor Immunoreactivity of Mast Cells in Acute Involuted Human Thymus

Modulation of ABH histo‐blood group antigen expression in normal and myasthenic human thymus

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