Influence Of Endocrine Hormones On Proliferation, Apoptosis And Expression Of Bcl-2 In Thymocytes In Patients With Myasthenia Gravis

Background and ObjectiveMyasthenia gravis (MG) is one of autoimmune diseases, which is mainly mediated by the effect of the acetylcholine receptor antibody (AchRAb) against acetylcholine receptor (AchR) on the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). The pathogenesis of MG is not well understood. Many studies have demonstrated that MG is associated with pathological alterations of the thymus in 80%-90% of cases, and the thymus is involved in the production of anti-AchR antibody. The clinical symptoms are relieved in most of MG patients after thymectomy and they are much better in the long-term period after thymectomy. However, little is known about why these autoreactive cells are able to escape negative selection in thymus in MG patients. The pathway of bcl-2 is one of main routes that mediate cell apoptosis, and it can maintain normal immune function, and self-immune tolerance, and prevent autoimmune diseases. It is well known that the specific binding between many endocrine hormones and corresponding receptors can...