| Objective:To approach the pathogenisis of IL-12 and IL-23 in myasthenia gravis(MG),the mRNA expressions of IL-12 and IL-23 special and common subunits in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the levels of anti-AChR antibodies,IFN-γand IL-17 in peripheral blood of MG patients were detected,furthermore the correlations among them were analyzed,so as to provide an experimental support for the target therapy of cytokine in MG.Methods:22 MG patients and 22 healthy controls were investigated by retrospective study.The mRNA expressions of IL-12 special subunit p35,IL-23 special subunit p19 and p40 the common subunit of IL-12 and IL-23 in PBMCs were detected by RT-PCR and the levels of serum anti-AChR-IgG,IFN-γand IL-17 were tested by ELISA, finally the correlation among them were analyzed.Results:(1) The expressions of IL-12p35,IL-23p19 and p40 (IL-12/23) mRNA in PBMCs of MG patients were respectively as follows:0.743±0.147,0.498±0.091,1.002±0.191,which in healthy controls were:0.317±0.038,0.180±0.031,0.872±0.049.Their expressions in MG patients were higher than control group,and the differences were significant(P < 0.05,P < 0.01,P < 0.01);and the expressions of them in general and ocular MG patients were respectively as:0.778±0.181,0.507±0.093,1.016±0.167 and 0.702±0.080,0.487±0.092,0.984±0.225,however they all had no significant difference(P > 0.05).(2) From 22 MG patients,serum anti-AChR-IgG could detected in 17 patients,and its levels in general and ocular MG patients were:0.448±0.090 and 0.404±0.066,but they both had no significant difference(P > 0.05).(3) The concentrations of IFN-γand IL-17 in MG patients were respectively as follows:67.523±26.139pg/ml,29.626±2.766pg/ml,which in control group were:52.379±9.125pg/ml,27.992±1.048pg/ml.Both of their concentrations were higher in MG patients,and the differences were significant(P < 0.01,P < 0.05);while the concentrations of IFN-γand IL-17 in general and ocular MG patients were:70.608±32.190pg/ml,29.942±2.855pg/ml and 63.820±17.315 pg/ml,29.246±2.755pg/ml,but they both had no significant difference(P > 0.05).(4) The correlations of IL-12p35, IL-23p19 and p40(IL-12/23) mRNA expression in PBMCs with anti-AChR-IgG levels in anti-AChR-Ab positive patients were all positive with the coefficients of 0.502,0.649 and 0.817 respecitively(P < 0.05,P < 0.01,P < 0.01).(5) The correlations of serum IFN-γand IL-17 concentrations with anti-AChR-IgG levels in anti-AChR-Ab positive patients were both positive with the coefficients of 0.613 and 0.533 respectively(P < 0.01,P < 0.05.(6) The correlations of IL-12p35 mRNA expression in PBMCs with IFN-γconcentration in serum and IL-23p19 mRNA expression with IL-17 concentration were both positive,and the coefficients were 0.906 and 0.725 respecitively(P < 0.01,P < 0.01);while the coefficients of IL-12p35 mRNA expression in PBMCs with IL-17 concentration in serum and IL-23p19 mRNA expression with IFN-γconcentration were -0.197 and 0.152,and both had no significance(P > 0.05,P > 0.05).Conclusions:IL-12 and IL-23 may plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of MG by promoting IFN-γand IL-17 secretion respectively,however they probably have no correlations with clinical type of MG. |
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