Increased serum concentration of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin in patients with Graves' disease.
Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) is released after activation and stimulation of eosinophils in allergic disease, which is a T(H)2-predominant condition. We previously reported that Graves' thyrotoxicosis develops or relapses after an attack of allergic rhinitis. In this study, to confirm the relation between Graves' disease and the allergic condition, we determined the serum level of EDN in 30 untreated patients with Graves' disease, 50 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and 39 normal controls. Compared to the serum level in normal subjects (30.1 +/- 15.6 ng/mL), EDN was increased in untreated patients with Graves' disease (52.4 +/- 27.6 ng/mL), but not in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (thyrotoxic, 30.9 +/- 13.4 ng/mL; euthyroid, 30.0 +/- 11.9 ng/mL; hypothyroid, 23.4 +/- 10.2 ng/mL). A significant correlation was observed between the EDN level and the serum activity of thyrotropin (TSH) receptor antibody (r = 0.541, p < 0.0001). These data suggest that the allergic condition is closely related to Graves' disease and that a T(H)2-type immune response is crucial in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease.
Hidaka
Yoh
Y
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan. hidaka@hp-lab.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Kimura
Masahiro
M
Izumi
Yukiko
Y
Takano
Toru
T
Tatsumi
Ke-ita
KI
Amino
Nobuyuki
N
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D047208:Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000502:physiology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D047208:Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin; D012260:Ribonucleases