title: CTLA-4 and its role in autoimmune thyroid disease.
abstract: Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) occurs in two common forms: Graves' disease and Hashimoto thyroiditis. On the basis of functional and experimental data, it has been suggested that the gene encoding cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is a candidate gene for conferring susceptibility to thyroid autoimmunity. In this review, we critically evaluate the evidence for pathogenetic involvement of CTLA-4 in the various forms of AITD and focus on the possible role of genetic variation of the CTLA4 locus. Population genetics data strongly suggest a role for the CTLA4 region in susceptibility to AITD. However, further functional studies are required to understand the significance of CTLA4 polymorphisms in the pathogenic mechanism of AITD.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. dimitry.chistyakov@bio.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chistiakov
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Turakulov
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments