Intrathyroidal mast cells express major histocompatibility complex class-II antigens.
We studied the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-II antigen in mast cells of rat thyroid glands. In the normal rat thyroid, mast cells express MHC class-II antigen. In BioBreeding Wistar (BB/W) rats, the strain of animals prone to develop spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis, the number of MHC class-II-positive mast cells was significantly higher than in normal rats (p less than 0.01). Furthermore, intrathyroidal mast cells in BB/W rats showed an increased MHC class-II expression before the appearance of circulating thyroid antibodies or the infiltration of tissue with mononuclear cells. These data suggest that mast cells in the rat thyroid gland may have a function as antigen-presenting cells.
Banovac
K
K
Department of Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, Fla.
Ghandur-Mnaymneh
L
L
Leone
J
J
Neylan
D
D
Rabinovitch
A
A
D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011913:Rats, Inbred BB; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011920:Rats, Inbred WF; D013045:Species Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014048:Tolonium Chloride
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D014048:Tolonium Chloride