Prevalence of Yersinia plasmid-encoded outer protein (Yop) class-specific antibodies in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of class-specific antibodies (IgG, IgA) to Yersinia enterocolitica plasmid-encoded outer proteins (Yops) in patients with diagnosed Hashimoto's thyroiditis.


METHODS
Seventy-one patients with Hashimoto's disease, 464 healthy blood donors and 250 patients with non-postinfectious rheumatic disorders (matched controls) were tested for class-specific antibodies to Yops. Anti-Yop antibodies were determined by ELISA and Western blot.


RESULTS
The prevalence of class-specific antibodies to Yops as determined by ELISA was 14-fold higher (20 of 71; 28.2%) in people with Hashimoto's thyroiditis than in the two control groups. These results were confirmed by the Western blot, with 16 positive sera, three equivocal and one negative.


CONCLUSIONS
There is strong clinical and seroepidemiologic evidence for an immunopathologic causative relationship between Yersinia enterocolitica infection and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Further investigation concerning the mechanisms involved and the possible effects of antibacterial chemotherapy on the outcome of Hashimoto's disease is warranted.
Chatzipanagiotou
S
S
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National University of Athens, Athens, Greece. chatlouk@hotmail.com
Legakis
J N
JN
Boufidou
F
F
Petroyianni
V
V
Nicolaou
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins