Accumulation of thyroid antigen-reactive T lymphocytes in the gland of patients with subacute thyroiditis.
Blood and thyroid-infiltrating lymphocytes from patients with de Quervain's subacute thyroiditis were tested in the leucocyte migration inhibition test for cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to thyroid antigen. Blood leucocytes were positive for CMI in eleven out of thirteen (85%) patients in the acute phase of the disease. In five cases tested repeatedly this reactivity disappeared after 7-11 months. Thyroid-infiltrating lymphocytes were obtained from eight patients by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. There was a relative accumulation of T lymphocytes (90 +/- 5%) in the thyroid gland as compared to lower numbers of T cells (65 +/- 5%) in the blood. When thyroid-infiltrating lymphocytes were tested for CMI to thyroid antigen, a significantly stronger inhibition was demonstrated with the infiltrating lymphocytes as compared to that of blood leucocytes. We conclude that thyroid antigen-reactive T cells accumulate in the glands of patients with subacute thyroiditis. This observation is in accordance with the presumed viral aetiology of this disorder.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000941:Antigens; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens