Intrathyroidal HLA-DR-positive lymphocytes in Hashimoto's disease: increases in CD8 and Leu7 cells.
The peripheral and intrathyroidal HLA-DR-positive (DR+) lymphocyte subsets that were activated in vivo in patients with Hashimoto's disease (HD) were examined by two-color flow cytometry with monoclonal antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8, Leu7, CD19, and HLA-DR antigens. The proportions of total DR+ cells in peripheral lymphocytes and the proportions of DR+ cells in the CD3+, CD4+, and Leu7+ lymphocytes were higher in patients with HD than in normal controls. Furthermore, the proportions of total DR+ cells among intrathyroidal lymphocytes isolated from thyroid tissue of individuals with HD were higher than those in their peripheral lymphocytes. Interestingly, the proportions of DR+ cells among the CD3+, CD8+, and Leu7+ lymphocytes in the thyroid were greatly increased. These data indicate that (i) CD3+ T, especially CD4+ T helper/inducer, lymphocytes and Leu7+ NK/K cells are activated in peripheral blood in Hashimoto's disease and that (ii) CD3+ T, especially CD8+ T suppressor/cytotoxic, lymphocytes and Leu7+ NK/K cells are predominantly activated in Hashimoto's goiter, suggesting an increase of cell-mediated cytotoxicity in the thyroid in Hashimoto's disease.
Aozasa
M
M
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Amino
N
N
Iwatani
Y
Y
Tamaki
H
H
Matsuzuka
F
F
Kuma
K
K
Miyai
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D017252:CD3 Complex; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology*
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell