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B-cell-activating factor is elevated in serum of patients with myasthenia gravis
Sa-Yoon Kang1, Chul-Hoo Kang1, Keun-Hwa Lee2
1Department of Neurology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, 1 Ara 1-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju, 690-756, South Korea.
Introduction:
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a B-cell-mediated autoimmune disease. B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) is a major factor in B-cell development and activation. In this study we investigated serum BAFF levels in MG patients.
Methods:
We compared the serum BAFF levels of 20 MG patients with gender-matched healthy controls. We assayed serum concentrations of BAFF and anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR) titers.
Results:
Serum BAFF levels of MG patients with AChR antibodies were significantly higher than those of healthy controls. A significant positive correlation was observed between serum BAFF levels and anti-AChR antibody titers. BAFF values did not correlate with disease severity.
Conclusions:
BAFF may play a major role in the pathogenesis of MG, and it may provide a potential target for therapy in patients with MG. Muscle Nerve 54: 1030-1033, 2016.
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