Abstract
The thymus is a critical organ for the elimination of autoreactive T cells by apoptosis. We studied the expression of apoptosis-associated genes, bcl-xL, bad, caspase-3, and c-myc family genes in myasthenia gravis (MG) thymuses. We observed that the mRNA levels of myc family genes, c-myc and max, were markedly reduced in MG thymuses. These results indicate that c-myc-mediated signaling is abnormal in MG thymuses. The levels of molecules whose expressions are associated with myc, such as STAM, prothymosin-alpha, and NFkappaB, were also analyzed.
Publication types
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Clinical Trial
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing*
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Adult
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Apoptosis
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
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Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
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Carrier Proteins / genetics
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Carrier Proteins / metabolism
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Caspase 3
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Caspases / genetics
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Caspases / metabolism
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Myasthenia Gravis / metabolism*
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Myasthenia Gravis / pathology
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NF-kappa B / genetics
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NF-kappa B / metabolism
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Phosphoproteins / genetics
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Phosphoproteins / metabolism
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Protein Precursors / genetics
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Protein Precursors / metabolism
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel / metabolism
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Repressor Proteins*
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Signal Transduction
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / pathology
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Thymosin / analogs & derivatives
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Thymosin / genetics
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Thymosin / metabolism
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Thymus Gland / metabolism*
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Thymus Gland / pathology
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Transcription Factor RelA
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Transcription Factors*
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bcl-Associated Death Protein
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bcl-X Protein
Substances
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
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BAD protein, human
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BCL2L1 protein, human
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
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Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
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Carrier Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
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MAX protein, human
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MXD1 protein, human
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Myc associated factor X
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NF-kappa B
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Phosphoproteins
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Protein Precursors
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel
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RNA, Messenger
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Repressor Proteins
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STAM protein, human
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Transcription Factor RelA
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Transcription Factors
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bcl-Associated Death Protein
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bcl-X Protein
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prothymosin alpha
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Thymosin
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CASP3 protein, human
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Caspase 3
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Caspases