Endocrine autoimmune diseases.
A considerable proportion of endocrine disorders (Graves' disease, primary hypothyroidism, type 1 diabetes, Addison's disease, and some forms of ovarian failure) are due to aberrant reactions of the immune system, viz. exaggerated reactions towards self-structures (autoantigens). Autoreactive T-cells are mainly responsible for the elicitation of destructive inflammatory responses in the target endocrine glands. Autoantibodies play a minor role in such reactions, but are useful in clinical practice as markers of the disease. A special type of autoantibody is formed by those autoantibodies that have endocrine functional activity, viz. autoantibodies capable of stimulatory or blocking the hormone synthesis and/or the growth of endocrine cells. These autoantibodies interfere with receptors, e.g. the TSH receptor or the IGF-I receptor. Antibodies stimulating the TSH receptor are responsible for the hyperthyroidism of Graves' disease.
Department of Immunology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
H A
HA
Drexhage
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NM
Wulffraat
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic