TY - JOUR
T1 - Expression of OX40 and OX40 ligand (gp34) in the normal and myasthenic thymus
AU - Onodera, J.
AU - Nagata, T.
AU - Fujihara, K.
AU - Ohuchi, M.
AU - Ishii, N.
AU - Sugamura, K.
AU - Itoyama, Y.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Objectives - To examine the expression of OX40, an activated memory T-cell marker, and its ligand (OX40L), a set of molecules for T-cell-B-cell interaction, and other lymphocyte activation markers in the thymuses of myasthenia gravis (MG) and controls. Material and methods - We studied the expression of OX40, OX40L, IL-2Rα and HLA-DR in the thymic tissues of MG and controls using immunocytochemistry and flowcytometry. Results - In both hyperplastic thymus of MG and control thymus, OX40+ cells were scattered mainly in the medulla with much fewer OX40L+ cells being distributed in the corticomedullary junctions. IL-2Rα and HLA-DR were expressed in the medulla at higher frequencies as compared with OX40 in controls as well as MG. In contrast, the numbers of OX40+ cells around the germinal centers (GC) were significantly greater than those of control thymuses, and some mononuclear cells in GC were OX40L+. A considerable number of OX40+ cells were seen in the thymic tissues adjacent to thymomas. OX40+ cells were CD4+CD8- or CD4+CD8+ and were mostly HLA-DR-. (The coexpression of OX40 and IL-2Rα on activated CD4+ T cells was previously reported.) Conclusion - OX40, expressed in a fraction of activated CD4+ T cells, may be upregulated in thymic tissues adjacent to GC and thymoma in MG, and OX40 may interact with OX40L in GC to enhance anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody production in MG.
AB - Objectives - To examine the expression of OX40, an activated memory T-cell marker, and its ligand (OX40L), a set of molecules for T-cell-B-cell interaction, and other lymphocyte activation markers in the thymuses of myasthenia gravis (MG) and controls. Material and methods - We studied the expression of OX40, OX40L, IL-2Rα and HLA-DR in the thymic tissues of MG and controls using immunocytochemistry and flowcytometry. Results - In both hyperplastic thymus of MG and control thymus, OX40+ cells were scattered mainly in the medulla with much fewer OX40L+ cells being distributed in the corticomedullary junctions. IL-2Rα and HLA-DR were expressed in the medulla at higher frequencies as compared with OX40 in controls as well as MG. In contrast, the numbers of OX40+ cells around the germinal centers (GC) were significantly greater than those of control thymuses, and some mononuclear cells in GC were OX40L+. A considerable number of OX40+ cells were seen in the thymic tissues adjacent to thymomas. OX40+ cells were CD4+CD8- or CD4+CD8+ and were mostly HLA-DR-. (The coexpression of OX40 and IL-2Rα on activated CD4+ T cells was previously reported.) Conclusion - OX40, expressed in a fraction of activated CD4+ T cells, may be upregulated in thymic tissues adjacent to GC and thymoma in MG, and OX40 may interact with OX40L in GC to enhance anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody production in MG.
KW - Flowcytometry
KW - Gp34
KW - Immunocytochemistry
KW - Myasthenia gravis
KW - OX40
KW - OX40 ligand
KW - Thymus
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U2 - 10.1034/j.1600-0404.2000.102004236.x
DO - 10.1034/j.1600-0404.2000.102004236.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 11071109
AN - SCOPUS:0033807407
VL - 102
SP - 236
EP - 243
JO - Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
JF - Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
SN - 0001-6314
IS - 4
ER -