Subgroup analysis
A subgroup analysis was
performed to assess the relationship between the expression levels of
costimulatory molecules (mOX40/mOX40L and sOX40/sOX40L) and clinical
parameters in patients with MG. Ninety patients with MG were divided
into 5 subgroups according to sex, age of onset,
MGFA classification, thymic
histology, and AchR-Ab
results.
Specifically, significantly higher
OX40 expression was observed on CD4+ T cells in the
GMG group than in the OMG group and in patients with thymoma or thymic
hyperplasia than in those without. No significant differences were
observed between groups stratified by sex, age of onset or AchR-Ab
levels. In terms of the expression
of OX40L on CD19+ B cells in patients with MG, no
statistically significant differences were observed between all
subgroups. Regarding the expression of OX40L on CD14+mononuclear cells in patients with MG, the GMG
group exhibited significantly higher expression than the OMG group, and
significant differences were not observed between groups stratified by
sex, age of onset, thymic histology and AchR-Ab
levels. Results of the subgroup
analysis of mOX40 and mOX40L levels in patients with MG are summarized
in Table 2 .
The levels of sOX40 were significantly increased in patients with GMG
compared to patients with OMG, and no significant differences were
observed between groups stratified by sex, age of onset, thymic
histology and AchR-Ab levels. However, in the analysis of the expression
levels of sOX40L in patients with MG, no statistically significant
differences were detected between all subgroups. Results of the subgroup
analysis of sOX40 and sOX40L levels in patients with MG are presented inTable 3 .