Imbalance in T follicular helper cells producing IL-17 promotes pro-inflammatory responses in MuSK antibody positive myasthenia gravis.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

A detailed understanding of the role of Tfh cells in MuSK-antibody positive myasthenia gravis (MuSK-MG) is lacking. We characterized phenotype and function of Tfh cells in MuSK-MG patients and controls. We found similar overall Tfh and follicular regulatory (Tfr) T cell frequencies in MuSK-MG and healthy controls, but MuSK-MG patients exhibited higher frequencies of Tfh17 cells and a higher ratio of Tfh:Tfr cells. These results suggest imbalanced Tfh cell regulation, further supported by increased frequencies of CD4 T cells co-producing IL-21/IL-17 and IL-17/IFN-γ, and increased Tfh-supported IgG production. These results support a role for Tfh cell dysregulation in MuSK-MG immunopathology.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Li, Y; Guptill, JT; Russo, MA; Howard, JF; Massey, JM; Juel, VC; Hobson-Webb, LD; Emmett, D; Chopra, M; Raja, S; Liu, W; Yi, JS

Published Date

  • August 15, 2020

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 345 /

Start / End Page

  • 577279 -

PubMed ID

  • 32497931

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC7397478

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1872-8421

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577279

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • Netherlands