[Organ-specific autoimmune diseases and cytokines].
Changes in serum levels of cytokines in organ-specific autoimmune diseases were reviewed. Serum levels of IL-12, critical for the development of Th1 cells, were increased in thyrotoxic patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease. Serum levels of IL-5, secreted from Th2 cells, were increased in thyrotoxic patients with Graves' disease, but not in thyrotoxic patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In patients with IDDM, serum levels of Th1 cytokines (IFN-gamma and IL-2) were increased but serum levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) were not increased. These findings suggest that measuring the serum concentration of various cytokines is useful to analyze Th1/Th2 balance in autoimmune diseases.
Hidaka
Y
Y
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Suita.
Amino
N
N
D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines