No restriction of intrathyroidal T cell receptor V alpha families in the thyroid of Graves' disease.
Recently it has been reported that the intrathyroidal T cells in Graves' disease display restriction in V alpha T cell receptor (TcR) gene family usage, although this is not found with TcR V beta gene families in the same individuals. We have performed a qualitative analysis of TcR V alpha family usage in 12 patients with Graves' disease by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of RNA extracted from isolated, unstimulated intrathyroidal lymphocytes and from snap-frozen whole thyroid specimens. No restriction was observed, with 10-15 V alpha gene families being amplified in all cases. The pattern of usage was similar to that in peripheral blood lymphocytes derived from normal subjects (n = 3) and from patients with Graves' disease (n = 3), as well as that present in the thyroids of patients with non-autoimmune toxic multinodular goitre (n = 4). These results indicated that there is no marked restriction of the unselected intrathyroidal T cell population in patients with Graves' disease who have been treated with antithyroid drugs.
McIntosh
R S
RS
Department of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Northern General Hospital, UK.
Watson
P F
PF
Pickerill
A P
AP
Davies
R
R
Weetman
A P
AP
D002460:Cell Line; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015870:Gene Expression; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta