Increased production of circulating soluble co-stimulatory molecule CTLA-4 in patients with myas-thenia gravis / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the role of soluble cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (sCTLA-4) in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis (MG) in Fujian province.Methods A total of 80 patients with MG and 80 sex-and age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study .MG patients were divided into non-glucocorticoid treatment group and glucocorticoid treatment group , and the latter was further divided into immunosuppressive therapy group and thymusectomy group .Concentrations of sCTLA-4 in ser-ums from above mentioned groups were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results The concentrations of sCTLA-4 in both non-glucocorticoid treatment group and glucocorticoid treatment group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group (6.03 ng/ml±3.58 ng/ml, 3.44 ng/ml± 2.36 ng/ml vs.0.49 ng/ml±0.95 ng/ml) (χ2=100.67, P<0.001), but sCTLA-4 concentrations in glu-cocorticoid treatment group were lower than those in non-glucocorticoid treatment group (Z=-3.37,P=0.001).With the treatment of glucocorticoid, the sCTLA-4 concentrations were reduced (6.03 ng/ml± 3.58 ng/ml vs.4.56 ng/ml±2.08 ng/ml;t=3.10, P=0.005), and the concentrations of sCTLA-4 were also decreased after thymusectomy therapy (3.86 ng/ml±2.53 ng/ml vs.2.59 ng/ml±2.37 ng/ml; Z=-2.21, P=0.04).However, there was no significant difference in the concentrations of sCTLA-4 before and after immunosuppressive drugs treatment (Z=-1.26,P=0.21).Conclusion The concentration of sCTLA-4 was increased in patients with MG , but with the treatment of glucocorticoid or thymusectomy it could be reduced .