Hla Antigens of Intrathymic and Peripheral Lymphocytes in Autoimmune Disease

Abstract

The importance of genetic factor became cleared by investigations of HLA antigens in Japanese with autoimmune disease. The HLA antigens of the intrathymic and peripheral lymphocytes in autoimmune disease in Japa nese were studied. The HLA antigens in the peripheral blood were evaluated in 20 cases of myasthenia gravis, 35 cases of ulcerative colitis and 20 cases of Behcet's disease. Of these the HLA antigens in the intrathymic lymphocytes were also studied in 12 cases of myasthenia gravis (4 with thymoma & 8 with thymic hyperplasia) and 3 cases of ulcerative colitis with thymic hyperplasia. Four cases of congenital heart abnormality and 3 cases of fetus were used as control. The NIH Tissue Tvnina Method was used.

HLA antigens in Japanese patients with myasthenia gravis.

“…To date, most of the studies on HLA in Oriental MG have been limited to the patients who developed the disorder in the adulthood (7,8). However, in Japanese the large number of the patients develop the disorder before 3 yr ofage (9,10).…”

HLA Antigens and Ulcerative Colitis in Japan

“…The frequencies of HLA B5 are significantly increased (p < 0.001). Ono et al (19) reported that intrathymic and peripheral lymphocytes showed identical HLA antigens in 3 cases of ulcerative colitis with thymic hyperplasia.…”