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In humans, interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) normally favor IFN-gamma-producing "Th1" T cell responses. Myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with thymomas frequently have high-titer neutralizing autoantibodies against these cytokines, but not against IFN-gamma. Because they occasionally develop intractable (even fatal) infections, we have tested effects of their sera on the generation of IFN-gamma responses by healthy adult T cells to autologous lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated dendritic cells (DC). Anti-IL-12(+) sera consistently reduced IFN-gamma responses substantially, whether assessed by intracellular staining or ELISA. Therefore, thymoma patients with intractable infections might benefit from cautious IFN-gamma therapy. We discuss wider implications of the surprising rarity of clear clinical hazards-or benefits-of these autoantibodies.

More information Original publication

DOI

10.1016/s0165-5728(03)00136-x

Type

Journal article

Publication Date

2003-06-01T00:00:00+00:00

Volume

139

Pages

102 - 108

Total pages

6

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Autoantibodies, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Cell Communication, Dendritic Cells, Female, Humans, Immunity, Cellular, Immunoglobulin G, Interferon-alpha, Interferon-gamma, Interleukin-12, Interleukin-4, Lipopolysaccharides, Male, Middle Aged, Myasthenia Gravis, Thymoma