Role of natural killer T cells in Graves' disease.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the role of natural killer T (NK T) cells in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease.


METHODS
NK T cell deficient mice and wild BALB/c mice were immunized with cells expressing TSH receptor once every two weeks 6 times. Two weeks after the final immunization, the mice were killed and serum thyroxine levels, anti-TSH receptor antibodies and thyroid pathological changes were examined.


RESULTS
The mean levels of TT(4) and TRAb in the immunized NK T cell deficient group were slightly elevated but significantly different from those of the non-immunized control group, while comparable to those in the immunized wild group. There were no significant changes of the activity levels of TSAb or TSBAb in the immunized NK T cell deficient mice compared to those in immunized wild control mice. Thyroids from immunized NK T cell deficient mice showed mild hypertrophy of some follicles as compared with non-immunized control mice. This change was comparable to immunized wild control mice.


CONCLUSIONS
NK T cells may not be involved in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease.
Luo
Wentian
W
Department of Endocrinology, The First Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China. liuji4@pub.xaonline.com
Guo
Hui
H
Aosai
Fumie
F
Yano
Akihiko
A
D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000276:immunology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology
D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin