Detection of in vivo production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha by human thyroid epithelial cells.
We have established previously that human thyroid epithelial cells (TEC) from patients with autoimmune thyroiditis are able to synthesize cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). This paper examines TEC in sections from autoimmune thyroiditis for the in vivo production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) using the combined techniques of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Thyroid tissue from patients with Graves' disease, Hashimoto's disease and non-toxic goitre was examined and both mRNA and the protein of TNF-alpha were detected in TEC on frozen sections. Representative figures of only Graves' samples are illustrated in this paper. In contrast, using the same methods, IFN-gamma was detected only in the infiltrating cells and not in TEC of thyroid tissue from the patients.
Zheng
R Q
RQ
Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, London, U.K.
Abney
E R
ER
Chu
C Q
CQ
Field
M
M
Maini
R N
RN
Lamb
J R
JR
Feldmann
M
M
D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D006042:Goiter / Q000276:immunology; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000276:immunology*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma