[Identification of correlations between numbers of CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells, levels of sera anti-AChR antibodies and transfer growth factor-beta in patients with myasthenia gravis].

Objective: The purpose of the current study is to demonstrate possible involvement of CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells and TGF-beta in immune activation in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). If so, how does CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells and TGF-beta, collaborate to impact on the production of pathogenic anti-AChR antibodies (Ab)?

Methods: 40 MG in-patients with recent onset or deterioration and age and gender-matched 38 healthy subjects were consecutively enrolled. Flow cytometry was employed to detect circulating CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells.

[Determination and clinical significance of serum anti-ryanodine receptor antibody in patients with myasthenia gravis].

Objective: To explore the clinical significance of serum anti-ryanodine receptor (RyR) antibody in the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG).

Methods: The crude sarcoplasmic reticulum was prepared from rabbit skeletal muscle, and then purified by differential centrifugation to produce the antigen. The serum anti-RyR antibody levels in 74 patients with MG (including 21 patients with comorbidic thymomas) were determined with ELISA.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha polymorphism and secretion in myasthenia gravis.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) gene promoter -308 polymorphism and myasthenia gravis (MG) in Chinese and analyze secretion of TNFalpha in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in MG patients.

Methods: A biallelic polymorphism at position -308 in the promoter of TNFalpha gene was screened by PCR amplification and NcoI recognition site. One hundred and twenty-three MG cases and 115 healthy controls were included in this study.

[Serum anti-titin antibody in patients with myasthenia gravis].

Objective: To study the clinical significance of serum anti-titin antibody level in the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG) with thymoma.

Method: The serum anti-titin antibody was analysed by ELISA method in 40 cases of health control group, 90 cases of MG, 17 cases of MG with thymoma and 7 cases of no-MG thymoma. The positive rate was compared among these groups.