Circulating activated T cell subsets in autoimmune thyroid diseases: differences between untreated and treated patients.
To investigate the relationships between lymphocyte subsets and thyroid function, peripheral blood lymphocytes were analysed with cell surface antigens of activated (HLA-DR+) T, helper T (CD4+ 2H4-, CD4+ 4B4+) and suppressor-inducer T (CD4+ 2H4+, CD4+ 4B4-) cells subsets in 56 patients with Graves' disease, 16 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 7 patients with typical subacute thyroiditis and 2 patients with the thyrotoxic phase of autoimmune thyroiditis. Both patients with Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis had increased percentages of HLA-DR+ T (Ia+ CD3+) cells as well as HLA-DR+ helper-inducer T (Ia+ CD4+) cells, which seemed to be independent of treatments. The percentage of HLA-DR+ suppressor-cytotoxic T (Ia+ CD8+) cells was increased in euthyroid or hypothyroid patients with Graves' disease following treatment, but was normal in hyperthyroid patients. The percentages of Ia+ CD4+ cells and Ia+ CD8+ were also increased in patients with thyroiditis, whereas these abnormal values normalized in the remission phase. These findings suggest that an increase in Ia+ CD4+ cells characteristically occurs during immune system activation in patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and the thyrotoxic phase of subacute thyroiditis, whereas the activated CD8+ cells in Graves' disease are induced by antithyroidal therapy.
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan.
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H
Ohashi
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T
Okugawa
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M
Itoh
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D007455:Iodine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008713:Methimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013968:Thyroiditis, Subacute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D008713:Methimazole; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D007455:Iodine