Cytotoxic antibodies in congenital hypothyroidism.
Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity was determined in serum samples from 61 patients with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and 46 of their mothers, using a 51chromium release assay with human thyroid cells. Such cytotoxic antibodies were found in 31% of the children and 24% of their mothers. In the 12 (of 37) newborn infants with hypothyroidism (group 1) who had positive tests, the median cell lysis was 20.1% compared to 4% in healthy newborns. In the 7 (of 29) mothers who had positive tests, the median lysis was 21.3%. In 24 older children with CH (group 2), cytotoxic activity was found in 6, and in them the median lysis was 19.7%; 4 of their mothers had increased lytic activity (median, 20.6%). In 96% of the mother-infant pairs concordance existed between the cytotoxic activity in mothers and their children. Increased thyroid cell lysis was found in 6 of 20 children with athyrosis (30%) and in 6 of 23 children with an ectopic gland (50%), but in only 1 of 14 children with a normal gland. Thyroglobulin antibodies were detected in 2 and antithyroid microsomal antibodies in 3 children-mother pairs. TSH receptor antibodies were present in 5 children and 3 of their mothers. The results indicate that intrauterine autoimmune thyroiditis could be involved in the pathogenesis of CH in some patients.
Bogner
U
U
Endocrine Department of Internal and Pediatric Medicine, Free University Berlin, West Germany.
Grüters
A
A
Sigle
B
B
Helge
H
H
Schleusener
H
H
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000276:immunology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000276:immunology; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; D013963:Thyroid Hormones