The immunohistology of the thymus in myasthenia gravis

Abstract

We have investigated cell subpopulations in frozen sections of thymus tissue obtained from myasthenic (MG) and control subjects. With the use of an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase system with monoclonal antibodies, the following cell surface antigens were studied on frozen sections (12 MG and 3 control thymus); T11, T4, T6, T8, IgM, IgD, and Ia. The pattern of T cell phenotypes in MG thymus is similar to that of normal control thymus when examined by immunohistologic techniques. MG cortical thymocytes are virtually all T11+, T4+, T8+, and T6+. In the medulla, at least 45% of thymocytes are T11+, with T4+ cells predominating over T8+ cells. Approximately 10% of medullary thymocytes are T6+. Scattered medullary cells expressing surface IgM and IgD are identified in both MG and normal thymuses. However, unlike the normal thymus, the MG thymus has numerous secondary follicles containing IgM- and IgD-bearing cells. This finding supports the hypothesis that the MG thymus microenvironment is aberrant. The Ia antigen is found in similar tissue section localization patterns in MG and control thymus. Ultramicroscopic studies show the Ia antigen predominantly on epithelial and interdigitating dendritic cells. By immunoperoxidase techniques, numerous keratin-positive cells are demonstrated in MG and control thymus. This suggests that thymic epithelial cells, like epithelial cells elsewhere, contain keratin. Because these data differ in degree from our previous findings in suspensions of MG thymocytes, this study emphasizes the importance of examining tissue sections as well as cell suspensions when one is studying lymphocyte surface markers.