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1993 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Fundamental study on the structure and functions of lymphoid follicles with germinal center observed in the thymuses of patients with myasthenia gravis

Research Project

Project/Area Number 04454350
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Research Field Thoracic surgery
Research InstitutionSaitama Medical School

Principal Investigator

YOSHITAKE Tsuyoshi  Saitama Medical School Faculty of Medicine Professor, 医学部, 教授 (60010261)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) MASUNAGA Atsuko  Saitama Medical School Faculty of Medicine Instructro, 医学部, 助手 (60219350)
KANAI Fukuei  Saitama Medical School Faculty of Medicine Instructor, 医学部, 助手 (30161152)
SUGAWARA Isamu  Saitama Medical School Faculty of Medicine Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (10196701)
Project Period (FY) 1992 – 1993
KeywordsMyasthenia Gravis / Thymus / Lymphoid follicle / B lymphocyte / Immunohistochemical stain / Germinal center / Immunoglobulin / Apoptosis
Research Abstract

The developing lymphoid follicles in the thymuses of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) were immunohistochemically investigated with emphasis on the structure and functions of the thymus.
The follicles were composed of abundant immature B lymphocytes and some elongated epithelial cells in which tonofilaments and desmosomes in the cytoplasm were confirmed by an immunoelectron microscopic method. These epithelial cells as well as B lymphocytes reacted with L26ab. They were not present in the follicles of the lymphnodes. Although a significant population of B lymphocytes was confirmed in the follicle, only a few immunoglobulin-bearing cells were present in the thymuses together with the follicles at about 30 % patients and lacked in the remaining thymuses, furthermore, no rearrangement of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (Igh) was recognized in these thymic tissues. The epithelial cells in the thymic follicles were structurally similar to those in the medullary zone of the human neonatal … More thymus.
Regarding apoptosis of the thynic tissues from MG patients, expression of Fas antigen related to apoptosis was reduced in the lymphoid follicles of the thymus, but was diffusely significant in the remaining thymic tissues. BMI antigen was not expressed in the lymphoid follicles nor other parts of the thymus. Fas mRNA was also decreased to a varying degree in the thymic tissues.
Thymomas of patients with MG were at about 45 % associated with medullary differentiation or lymphoid follicles that were not found in thymomas of patients without MG.B lymphocytes were concentrated in these areas, but immunolobulin-bearing cells were scarce or lacked.
From these results, it was concluded that B lymphocytes concentrated in the follicles of the thymuses or thymomas from patients with MG revealed a state of preactivated antibody production, the epithelial cells in the lymphoid follicle of the thymus might be related to an immunological function associated with antibody production and the cells included in the lymphoid follicles might be able to reduce a negative regulation for T lymphocytes in the thymuses of patients with MG. Less

  • Research Products

    (10 results)

All Other

All Publications (10 results)

  • [Publications] Nakamura H,Masunaga A,Yoshitake T,Sugawara I et al.: "Immunoelectron microscopic study of the lymphoid follicles in the thymus obtained from patients with myasthenia gravis" J.Clin.Electron Microsopy. 25. 5-6 (1992)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 吉竹毅: "本邦臨床統計集:縦隔腫瘍" 日本臨床. 増刊. 688-701 (1993)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 亀谷雄一郎,吉竹毅,高浜龍彦,金井福栄 他: "胸腺腫再手術の検討" 胸部外科. 46. 74-78 (1993)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Masunaga A,Sugawara I,Nakamura H,Yoshitake T et al.: "Strong expression of L26 antigen in epithelial cells of human neonatal thymus." Thymus. 21. 65-73 (1993)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 吉竹毅,高浜龍彦,金井福栄,菅原勇 他: "重症筋無力症胸腺におけるB cell分布とその自己抗体産生活性" 胸部外科. 46. 1083-1089 (1993)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Nakamura H, Masunaga A, Yoshitake T, Sugawara I et al.: "Immunoelectron microscopic study of the lymphoid follicles in the thymus obtained from patients with myasthenia gravis" J Clin. Electron Microsopy. 25(1). 5-6 (1992)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Yoshitake T: "Mediastinal Tumors" Nippon Rinsho Suppl.(650). 688-701 (1993)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Kametani Y, Yoshitake T, Takahama T, kanai F, et al.: "Reoperation for patients with thymoma" Jpn J Thorac Surg. 46(1). 74-78 (1993)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Masunaga A, Sugawara I, Nskamura H, Yoshitake T, et al.: "Strong expression of L26 antigen in epithelial cells of human neonatal thymus." Thymus. 21. 65-73 (1993)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Yoshitake T, Takahama T, Kanai F, Sugawara I, Masunaga A, et al.: "B cell population and its autoimmune activity in the thymus of patients associated with myasthenia gravis" Jpn J Thorac Surg. 46(13). 1083-1089 (1993)

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      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 1995-03-27  

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