Interferon-gamma administration does not affect human thyroid hormone metabolism in the post-surgical euthyroid sick syndrome.
Cytokines are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis the euthyroid sick syndrome. Experimental data from in vitro and animal in vivo studies suggest that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) could be another cytokine that might influence thyroid hormone metabolism, although in a previous study in healthy subjects we could not demonstrate an effect of IFN-gamma on thyroid hormone indices. Possibly, however, a non-stressed system is not a representative environment to study the effects of a mediator, which might exert its role during pathological circumstances in which it may interact synergistically with other inflammatory mediators. Therefore, we studied the effects of a single dose of recombinant human IFN-gamma (Immukine, 100 microg/m2, sc) on thyroid hormone concentrations in a placebo-controlled trial in 13 major surgery patients. Basal IFN-gamma levels did not increase. IFN-gamma induced a significant increase in monocyte HLA-DR expression (post-operative 50%; 24 h after IFN-gamma 90%), but did not affect thyroid hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone concentrations. We therefore conclude that IFN-gamma does not appear to be involved in the major changes in thyroid hormone metabolism in patients with non-thyroidal illness.
de Metz
J
J
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Romijn
J A
JA
Gouma
D J
DJ
ten Berge
I J M
IJ
Busch
O R C
OR
Endert
E
E
Sauerwein
H P
HP
D000368:Aged; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005067:Euthyroid Sick Syndromes / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D016207:Cytokines; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine