INCREASE IN DIFFERENTIATED TYPE OF T-LINEAGE CELLS IN THE MYASTHENIC THYMUS - 2-COLOR FLUOROCYTOMETRIC ANALYSIS

We made use of two‐color flow cytometry to examine thymic lymphoid cells from patients with myasthenia gravis. The CD4+CD8− cells and the CD4−CD8+ cells were significantly increased in the thymus from the patients, compared with findings in the control samples. Conversely, the CD4+CD8+ cells were significantly decreased, Significant increases in CD1−CD3+ cells and significant decreases in CD1+CD3− cells were noted. The percentage of CD45R+ cells also increased. There were no increases in activated T lymphocytes, defined as CD4+DR+ cells, CD8+DR+ cells, or IL2R+ cells. We conclude that the proportion of T lineage lymphocytes that are differentiated is increased in the thymus of patients with myasthenia gravis, and could reflect accelerated differentiation. Copyright © 1990 American Neurological Association