The influences of glucocorticoid treatment on the Fas expression in peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in patients with myasthenia gravis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relation between Fas-mediated apoptosis and glucocorticoid treatment in myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods In 17 patients with MG, 6 patients received glucocorticoid treatment (glucocorticoid treatment group),and 11 patients were treated without glucocorticoid (nonglucocorticoid treatment group). Meanwhile, 13 healthy cases were selected as healthy control group. CD4,CD8 and Fas expressions in peripheral blood T lymphocyte were detected by flow cytometry in three groups and analyzed. Results The percentage of CD4-CD8+ cells in peripheral blood T lymphocyte in glucocorticoid treatment group was significantly higher than that in healthy control group[(36.75 ± 11.56)% vs. (26.31 ±9.00)%, P = 0.027], while the percentage of CD4-CD8- cells was significantly lower [(30.56 ± 9.72)% vs.(42.96 ± 11.54)%, P =0.018]. The percentage of CD4-CD8+ cells in peripheral blood T lymphocyte in glucocorticoid treatment group was significantly higher than that in non-glucocorticoid treatment group [(36.75 ± 11.56)% vs. (25.24 ±7.63)% ,P =0.019]. The percentages of Fas+ and CD8 +Fas+ cells in peripheral blood T lymphocyte in glucocorticoid treatment group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group[(46.10 ± 7.13)% vs. (31.22 ± 13.00)%, P=0.006; (62.86 ± 12.29)% vs. (45.59 ±11.50)%, P = 0.003]. The percentage of CD8+ Fas+ cells in peripheral blood T lymphocyte in glucocorticoid treatment group was significantly higher than that in non-glucocorticoid treatment group [(62.86 ± 12.29)%vs (50.84 ± 8.31 )%, P = 0.034]. Conclusions Glucocorticoid treatment may have influence on peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in patients with MG. Fas-mediated apoptosis may be involved in the mechanism of glucocorticoid treatment in MG. Key words: Myasthenia gravis; Antigens,CD95; T-lymphocyte subsets; Glucocorticoids