title: Extrathyroidal sites of autoantibody synthesis in Graves' disease.
abstract: Several potential sites of thyroid autoantibody production have been investigated using tissue obtained at thyroidectomy for Graves' disease. Spontaneous thyroglobulin and microsomal antibody synthesis was measured using a plaque forming cell assay or a short term culture system coupled to a direct enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA); these techniques allow the evaluation of lymphocyte populations which have been activated in vivo. Lymphocytes from the cervical lymph nodes, thyroid and bone marrow all contributed to autoantibody production; in contrast no synthesis was demonstrated using cells obtained from the thymus or peripheral blood. Long term culture of the lymphocytes confirmed these findings. The effect of anti-thyroid treatment, with radioiodine, drugs or surgery, on autoantibody production in Graves' disease must be viewed in the light of these results.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009333:Neck; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies