Serum BAFF expression in patients with myasthenia gravis

J Neuroimmunol. 2008 Aug 13;199(1-2):151-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2008.05.010. Epub 2008 Jun 30.

Abstract

A B-cell activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family (BAFF) is an essential B-cell survival factor. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is one of the most typical antibody-mediated autoimmune disorders. To test whether serum BAFF levels are increased in MG patients, we compared the serum BAFF levels of 40 MG patients with those of 30 healthy controls. Serum BAFF levels of MG group were significantly higher than those of healthy group. These results suggested that the BAFF might play a role in the immunopathogenesis of MG and further study on B-cell and T-cell activation may be needed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • B-Cell Activating Factor / blood*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / blood*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Autoantigens
  • B-Cell Activating Factor
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • TNFSF13B protein, human