title: Immunohistochemical analysis of the retrobulbar tissues in Graves' ophthalmopathy.
abstract: We have characterized the mononuclear cell infiltrate in the extraocular muscle of three patients with Graves' disease, using antibodies which permit staining of paraffin-embedded tissue. The majority of lymphocytes, occurring in foci or interstitially, were T cells, most of which stain for CD3 or with UCHL1. T cells few, if any, stained with SN130, directed against the CD45R determinant. This suggests that these lymphocytes comprise a recently activated population within which memory cells may reside. B cells were also found but were predominantly confined to focal aggregates, and in one patient lymphoid follicles were seen. The orbital fat and connective tissue from a further two patients contained very few infiltrating cells which were mainly UCHL1-positive. Eye muscle cells did not express Ia antigens but the interstitial cells between them were Ia-positive and the vascular endothelium in four of the five specimens also stained with Ia. These results indicate that Graves' ophthalmopathy is associated with T cell, and to a lesser extent B cell, responses against the retrobulbar tissues; the extraocular muscle interstitial cells, probably including fibroblasts, may be targets of activation resulting from this infiltration.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge Clinical School, UK.
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Weetman
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Cohen
authors: K C
authors: KC
authors: Gatter
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Fells
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Shine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000276:immunology*; D009915:Orbit / Q000276:immunology*; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006680:HLA Antigens