Apoptosis of thymocytes and expression of Fas/FasL in MG thymus

Objective To investigate the significance of apoptosis of thymocytes and expression of apoptosis associated gene Fas/FasL in the thymus of myasthenia gravis (MG) Methods The apoptosis of thymocytes was detected by TUNEL, and the expressions of Fas/FasL and Fas/FasL mRNA were detected by S P immunohistochemical method and in situ hybridization Results The amount of apoptotic thymocytes, and the expressions of Fas and Fas mRNA were significantly lower in MG thymus than those in normal thymus The expression of Fas was negatively associated with the amount of apoptotic thymocytes The amount of apoptotic thymocytes was reduced significantly in the surgically effective cases as compared with that in non effective cases Conclusion The changes of apoptosis of thymocytes and the expression of Fas in the thymus may be associated with the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis The amount of apoptotic thymocytes may act as a potential indicator for the outcome of the thymectomized MG patients