Inflammation and Epstein-Barr Virus Infection Are Common Features of Myasthenia Gravis Thymus: Possible Roles in Pathogenesis
Figure 2
Presence of B cell lymphoid infiltrates and plasma cells in MG and control thymuses analysed for EBV detection. (a, b) Thymus with follicular hyperplasia (MG1). CD20+ B cells aggregate to form a germinal center (GC) in the thymic medulla (a). Many CD138+ plasma cells are present at the periphery of a GC (b). (c, d) Thymus with thymitis (MG11). Many CD20+ B cells (c) and CD138+ plasma cells (d) are sparse throughout the medullary infiltrates. (e, f) Involuted thymus (MG17). The residual thymic parenchyma contains lymphoid infiltrates with numerous CD20+ B cells (e) and CD138+ plasma cells (f). (g, h) Normal thymus from an adult healthy subject. Some CD20+ cells (g) and rare CD138+ plasma cells (h) are present in the thymic parenchyma. Magnifications: ×10 (a, b, e, f); ×20 (c, d); ×40 (g, h).
