CD4⁺CD25⁺ thymocytes of patients with MG show decreased expression of Foxp3 mRNA. cDNA samples were obtained from CD4⁺CD25^- and CD4⁺CD25⁺ thymocytes that had been purified using MACS magnetic microbeads and were subjected to real-time quantitative PCR using primers specific to FoxP3. The Foxp3 mRNA values were normalized to the 28S rRNA expression in each sample. (A) Quantification of relative Foxp3 mRNA levels for CD4⁺CD25^- and CD4⁺CD25⁺ thymocytes from newborns. Error bars indicate SD value. (B) Quantification of relative Foxp3 mRNA levels in CD4⁺CD25⁺ thymocytes from newborns, young adults, and patients with MG.9. ▪ indicates 1 patient or 1 control. Bars represent mean values.