Altered serum levels of cytokines in patients with myasthenia gravis
Shu-Li Wei,
Chun-Lin Yang,
Wei-Yue Si,
Jing Dong,
Xue-Lu Zhao,
Peng Zhang,
Heng Li,
Cong-Cong Wang,
Min Zhang,
Xiao-Li Li,
Rui-Sheng Duan
Affiliations
Shu-Li Wei
Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250014, PR China
Chun-Lin Yang
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Institute of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China
Wei-Yue Si
Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250014, PR China
Jing Dong
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, PR China
Xue-Lu Zhao
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, PR China
Peng Zhang
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Institute of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China
Heng Li
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Institute of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China
Cong-Cong Wang
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Institute of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China
Min Zhang
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Institute of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China
Xiao-Li Li
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Institute of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China; Corresponding author. Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, PR China.
Rui-Sheng Duan
Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250014, PR China; Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Institute of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China; Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Jinan 250014, PR China; Corresponding author. Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250014, PR China.
Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease characterized by generalized skeletal muscle contraction weakness due to autoantibodies targeting neural-muscular junctions. Here, we investigated the relationship between key cytokines and MG type, disease course, antibodies, and comorbidities. Method: Cytokine levels in serum samples collected from MG (n = 45) and healthy control (HC, n = 38) patients from January 2020 to June 2022 were quantified via flow cytometry. Results: Levels of IL-6 were higher in the MG group versus healthy individuals (p = 0.026) and in patients with generalized versus ocular MG (p = 0.019). IL-6 levels were positively correlated with QMG score. In patients with MG with both AChR and Titin antibodies, serum levels of sFas and granulysin were higher than in those with AChR alone (p = 0.036, and p = 0.028, respectively). LOMG had a reduction in serum levels of IL-2 compared to EOMG (p = 0.036). LOMG patients with diabetes had lower serum levels of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ (p = 0.044, p = 0.038, and p = 0.047, respectively) versus those without diabetes. sFas in the MG with Abnormal thymus were reduced compared to those in MG with Normal thymus (p = 0.008). Conclusions: This study revealed a positive correlation between IL-6 level and MG status. Serum cytokine levels of the AChR + Titin MG group differed from those of the AChR group. LOMG had a lower IL-2 level. Comorbidities affect some cytokines in peripheral blood in MG serum.
