Inflammation and Epstein-Barr Virus Infection Are Common Features of Myasthenia Gravis Thymus : Possible Roles in Pathogenesis

Joint Authors

Caldara, Rosa
Berrih-Aknin, Sonia
Antozzi, Carlo
Cavalcante, Paola
Maggi, Lorenzo
Bernasconi, Pia
Mantegazza, Renato
Colleoni, Lara
Giardina, Carmelo
Motta, Teresio

Source

Autoimmune Diseases

Issue

Vol. 2011, Issue 2011 (31 Dec. 2011), pp.1-17, 17 p.

Publisher

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Publication Date

2011-09-26

Country of Publication

Egypt

No. of Pages

17

Main Subjects

Diseases

Abstract EN

The thymus plays a major role in myasthenia gravis (MG).

Our recent finding of a persistent Epstein-Barr (EBV) virus infection in some MG thymuses, combined with data showing that the thymus is in a proinflammatory state in most patients, supports a viral contribution to the pathogenesis of MG.

Aim of this study was to gain further evidence for intrathymic chronic inflammation and EBV infection in MG patients.

Transcriptional profiling by low density array and real-time PCR showed overexpression of genes involved in inflammatory and immune response in MG thymuses.

Real-time PCR for EBV genome, latent (EBER1, EBNA1, LMP1) and lytic (BZLF1) transcripts, and immunohistochemistry for LMP1 and BZLF1 proteins confirmed an active intrathymic EBV infection, further supporting the hypothesis that EBV might contribute to onset or perpetuation of the autoimmune response in MG.

Altogether, our results support a role of inflammation and EBV infection as pathogenic features of MG thymus.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Cavalcante, Paola& Maggi, Lorenzo& Colleoni, Lara& Caldara, Rosa& Motta, Teresio& Giardina, Carmelo…[et al.]. 2011. Inflammation and Epstein-Barr Virus Infection Are Common Features of Myasthenia Gravis Thymus : Possible Roles in Pathogenesis. Autoimmune Diseases،Vol. 2011, no. 2011, pp.1-17.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-454981

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Cavalcante, Paola…[et al.]. Inflammation and Epstein-Barr Virus Infection Are Common Features of Myasthenia Gravis Thymus : Possible Roles in Pathogenesis. Autoimmune Diseases No. 2011 (2011), pp.1-17.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-454981

American Medical Association (AMA)

Cavalcante, Paola& Maggi, Lorenzo& Colleoni, Lara& Caldara, Rosa& Motta, Teresio& Giardina, Carmelo…[et al.]. Inflammation and Epstein-Barr Virus Infection Are Common Features of Myasthenia Gravis Thymus : Possible Roles in Pathogenesis. Autoimmune Diseases. 2011. Vol. 2011, no. 2011, pp.1-17.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-454981

Data Type

Journal Articles

Language

English

Notes

Includes bibliographical references

Record ID

BIM-454981