Effects of treatments on CXCL13 expression. (A) Subcultures of normal TECs were treated with dexamethasone for 24 and 48 hours, and CXCL13 levels were measured by ELISAin the culture supernatant. Results are expressed as the mean ± SEM of 3 different experiments. (B) Fluorescence intensities were determined on TECs treated with dexamethasone by flow cytometry analysis. A representative experiment out of 2 is shown. (C) Representative experiment (1 of 3) of flow cytometry analysis. As dexamethasone concentration increases, the positive peak (thin line) is shifted to negative values (large line). (D) CXCL13 concentrations were determined by ELISA in sera obtained at the time of thymectomy (time 0) and at different times after thymectomy in 15 MG patients followed up after surgery. Results are expressed as mean and SEM of percentage for each group. The CXCL13 serum level at the time of thymectomy is defined as 100%. Group 1: 3 MG patients who never underwent corticotherapy and did not improve after thymectomy; group 2: 7 MG patients who never underwent corticotherapy and improved after thymectomy; and group 3: 5 MG patients who underwent corticotherapy and improved after thymectomy.