The Role of the Thymus in the Pathogenesis of Myasthenia Gravis

Abstract

ONODERA, H. The Role of the Thymus in the Pathogenesis of Myasthenia Gravis.Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2005, 207 (2), 87-98 Myasthenia gravis is an organ-specific autoimmune disease characterized by the production of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies. In this review, I describe the pathophysiological importance of the altered chemokine receptor-mediated signaling in the thymus and peripheral blood of myasthenia gravis patients. The epidemiological and clinical features of myasthenia gravis are also discussed.

CCL21 overexpressed on lymphatic vessels drives thymic hyperplasia in myasthenia

“…The next step was to determine the nature of the cells overexpressing CCL21 in MG thymic hyperplasia. Onodera22 reported a strong CCL21 immunoreactivity in thymic stromal cells in hyperplastic MG thymuses. Although thymic epithelial cells express CCL21, we did not detect any increased expression of CCL21 by these cells in MG patients (data not shown).…”

Myasthenia gravis: a long term follow-up study of Swedish patients with specific reference to thymic histology

“…The thymus gland plays a central role in the development of the T cell repertoire but its role in MG is not clear 4 – 6. In MG, the thymic gland is normal in 15–20%, shows hyperplasia (HPL) in 65–75% and thymoma in 10–15% of patients 1 4.…”

Sleep Related Conditions with Myasthenia Gravis: Evidence, Causes and Implications

“…The former usually has weakness of faciopharyngeal, neck extensor, respiratory and proximal muscles without ocular muscle weakness and atrophy of the tongue and face [34]. In adults with MG, the thymus gland is abnormal in ≥90% [35] (figure 1). The usual onset of MG is gradual.…”