ABSTRACT
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a prototypical antibody-mediated neurological autoimmune disease with the involvement of humoral immune responses in its pathogenesis. T follicular helper (Tfh) cells have been implicated in many autoimmune diseases. However, whether and how Tfh cells are involved in MG remain unclear. Here, we established and studied a widely-used and approved animal model of human MG, the rat model with acetylcholine receptor alpha (AChRα) subunit (R-AChR)-induced experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). This model presented mild body-weight loss 10 days after the first immunization (representing the early stage of disease) and more obvious clinical manifestations and body-weight loss 7 days after the second immunization (representing the late stage of disease). AChR-specific pre-Tfh cells and mature Tfh cells were detected in these two stages, respectively. In co-cultures of Tfh cells and B cells, the number of IgG2b-secreting B cells and the level of anti-AChR antibodies in the supernatant were higher in the cultures containing EAMG-derived Tfh cells. In immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assays, a substantial number of CD4/Bcl-6 T cells and a greater number of larger germinal centers were observed in lymph node tissues resected from EAMG rats. Based on these results, we hypothesize that an AChR-specific Tfh cell-mediated humoral immune response contributes to the development of EAMG.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , B-Lymphocytes , Allergy and Immunology , Disease Models, Animal , Immunity, Humoral , Lymph Nodes , Allergy and Immunology , Myasthenia Gravis, Autoimmune, Experimental , Allergy and Immunology , Protein Subunits , Allergy and Immunology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 , Allergy and Immunology , Rats, Inbred Lew , Receptor Cross-Talk , Receptors, Cholinergic , Allergy and Immunology , T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer , Allergy and ImmunologyABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects of medial retinaculum tightening under the arthroscope for the adolescent pa -tella dislocation.Methods From January 2010 to July 2016,36 patients(38 knees)of adolescent patellar dislocations were treated by ar-throscope with the medial retinaculum tightening.The patient was evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively,including the J-sign,apprehen-sion test,scores of International Knee Documentation Committee questionnaire(IKDC),Lysholm and Kujala.Results During the followed-up at 3,6 and 12 months after the operation,IKDC scores were improved 35.34%,43.16%and 53.71%respectively compared to the preop-erative data(P<0.01).The Lysholm scores were improved 74.73%,89.89%and 110.9%(P<0.01).The Kujala scores were improved 78.37%,92.62%and 117.8%(P<0.01).All the scores showed a rising trend.There was no significant difference in the scores of pa-tients with acute patellar dislocation group and recurrent patellar dislocation group during the follow -up(P>0.05).The positive rate of J-sign test decreased by 52.63%and the apprehension test decreased by 57.89%(P<0.01)12 months after the operation.IKDC,Kujala and Ly-sholm scores increased obviously after the operation,and the knee joint activity level and overall satisfaction increased significantly.Conclu-sion Arthroscopic treatment with medial retinaculum tightening for adolescent patellar dislocation can result in positive effects,and it is easy to operate and grasp.