“Killer” cells in Duchenne disease

Abstract
Two fetuses at risk for X-linked recessive Duchenne muscular dystrophy and five affected boys were examined by electronmicroscopy. In all cases, numerous activated lymphocytes were found in different stages of invasion in muscle cells. Characteristic aggressor-muscle cell interactions were manifest by successive phases of cell-to-cell adherence and muscle cell destruction. Cell-mediated cytolysis may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.