| Literature DB >> 16574246 |
Hiroaki Yoshikawa1, Katsuaki Sato, Shigeki Edahiro, Yutaka Furukawa, Takahiro Maruta, Kazuo Iwasa, Hideto Watanabe, Shizuka Takaoka, Yasuhiro Suzuki, Masaharu Takamori, Masahito Yamada.
Abstract
We examined the serum levels of cytokines, interferon (IFN)-alpha, IFN-gamma, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-12 p40, and IL-12 p70; those that affect the T helper 1 and 2 balance in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Among the cytokines tested, only IL-12 p40, together with the serum titer of anti-IL-12 p40 antibody, was significantly elevated in MG with thymoma. Their elevation was independent of the histopathology of thymoma. Thymectomy decreased the levels of IL-12 p40 accompanied by the anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody, but not anti-IL-12 p40 antibodies. These data strongly suggest the association of IL-12 p40 and its autoantibody with the immunopathology of MG with thymoma.Entities:
Mesh：
Substances：
Year: 2006 PMID： 16574246 DOI： 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2006.02.012
Source DB: PubMed Journal: J Neuroimmunol ISSN： 0165-5728 Impact factor: 3.478