Interferon-gamma induces HLA-DR expression by thyroid epithelium.
We recently showed that human thyroid epithelial cells, which are normally negative for HLA-DR molecules, express HLA-DR in thyroid autoimmunity. Furthermore, induction of HLA-DR on normal thyroid cells can be achieved by culture with plant lectins. We have now found that recombinant human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induces expression of HLA-DR molecules on cultured human thyroid cells, whereas Namalva IFN-alpha, recombinant IFN-beta or recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) do not. All three IFN, but not IL-2, enhanced thyroid cell HLA-A,B,C expression. The results strongly implicate T cells (which are the source of IFN-gamma) in the aberrant induction of DR on thyroid epithelial cells which is proposed to be a central feature of the immunopathological processes leading to autoimmunity.
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D006680:HLA Antigens; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma