Expression and significance of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on thymic T follicular helper cells in myasthenia gravis
- VernacularTitle:重症肌无力胸腺滤泡辅助性T细胞α7烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体的表达及其意义
- Author:
Meng WANG
1
,
2
;
Menghao YANG
1
,
2
;
Xinzheng CUI
1
;
Zirui SUN
3
;
Chenshuo SHI
1
;
Zhiwen ZHANG
1
;
Lixiang ZHENG
1
;
Qingyong ZHANG
1
Author Information
1. Myasthenia Gravis Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital/Henan Provincial People s Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, P. R. China
2. General Laboratory of Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, P. R. China
3. Department of Cardiac Surgery, Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, P. R. China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor;
myasthenia gravis;
T follicular helper cells
- From:
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
2025;32(12):1771-1776
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the expression of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) in thymic T follicular helper cells (TFH) and its significance in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods Fifteen MG patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Myasthenia Gravis Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Henan Provincial People’s Hospital from June 2022 to June 2023 were selected as a MG group, including 7 males and 8 females, aged 12-30 years. Twelve patients who underwent partial thymectomy to optimize surgical field exposure during cardiac surgery at Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital from June 2022 to June 2023 were selected as a control group, including 5 males and 7 females aged 20-35 years. Thymus single cell suspension was obtained by grinding the thymus tissue, and flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of α7nAChR in TFH cells. The thymus cell suspension was purified using density gradient centrifugation, followed by immunomagnetic bead separation to obtain CD4+T cells. CXCR5 antibody and coupled magnetic beads were added to isolate TFH cells. Real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were performed to further investigate the expression of α7nAChR in TFH cells. Results Compared with the control group, the proportion of thymic TFH cells in the MG group was significantly increased (P<0.05), along with significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of α7nAChR within these cells (P<0.01). Conclusion The findings suggest that there is a reduced expression of α7nAChR within thymic TFH cells in MG patients, leading to weakened immunosuppressive function which may indirectly contribute to disease onset and progression.
