title: Increased levels of serum interleukin-18 in Graves' disease.
abstract: We have previously reported that serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and IL-12 levels were significantly increased in hyperthyroid Graves' disease. In this study, we investigated serum IL-18 levels in patients with either Graves' disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The serum IL-18 levels in Graves' disease were significantly increased in the hyperthyroid state and were decreased during treatment with methimazole or propylthiouracil. On the other hand, the levels in Hashimoto's thyroiditis in the hypothyroid state showed no significant differences from those in healthy subjects. When liothyronine sodium was administered orally to healthy subjects, serum IL-18 levels were not changed. Positive correlations between serum IL-18 and IL-12, IL-12 and sIL-2R, and sIL-2R and IL-18 levels were noted in Graves' disease. These results suggest that Th1 cytokines might play an important regulatory role in Graves' disease.
authors.affiliation: The Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Ehime University, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onji
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008713:Methimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine
chemical_list: D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D020382:Interleukin-18; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D008713:Methimazole; D011441:Propylthiouracil