title: Heterogeneity of immunoregulatory T cells in human thyroid autoimmunity: influence of thyroid status.
abstract: Monoclonal antibodies of the OKT series were used to identify circulating T lymphocytes (OKT3+), their helper-inducer (OKT4+) and suppressor-cytotoxic (OKT8+) subsets and cells bearing Ia antigen (OKIa+) in 75 patients with thyroid autoimmune disorders, including 14 Graves' disease, 21 myxoedema, 20 asymptomatic thyroiditis, 12 Hashimoto's thyroiditis and eight simple goitre with superimposed thyroiditis. In the whole population of patients, a negative correlation was observed between the percentage of OKT8+ cells and serum free thyroxine levels whatever the type of thyroiditis. The percentage of OKT8+ cells was decreased in Graves' disease and increased in myxoedema while it reversed after adequate treatment of the two diseases. However, a trend to a decrease in the proportion of OKT8+ cells was still observed in treated Graves' disease and in all the other groups of thyroiditis with euthyroidism. The minor modifications observed for OKT3+ and OKT4+ cells were in relation with those of OKT8+ cells. There was an increased percentage of Ia+ cells in Graves' disease and in Hashimoto's thyroiditis partly reflecting the presence of activated lymphocytes. In conclusion, these data suggest first of all a direct influence of serum T4 on the distribution of circulating OKT8+ cells in addition to documenting the heterogeneity of T cell immunoregulatory factors.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000276:immunology; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009230:Myxedema / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000276:immunology; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D013974:Thyroxine