title: [The relationship between intrathyroidal dendritic cells and humoral immune disorder in Graves' disease].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between intrathyroidal dendritic cells and humoral immune disorder in Graves' disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  With the use of S-100 protein antibodies and the help of SP immunohistochemical method, the number and distribution of S-100 protein positive dendritic cells were observed in thyroid glands from 34 patients with Graves' disease and 5 controls. Serum thyroid stimulating antibodies (TSAb) before operation were measured with human embryo-kidney cells expressing the recombinant thyrotrophin receptor. The correlation between the infiltrating degree of intrathyroidal dendritic cells and the values of serum TSAb was analyzed in patients with Graves' disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In normal thyroid glands, no S-100 protein positive dendritic cells were found. Dendritic cells were seen in all observed thyroid glands from patients with Graves' disease. Most of the dendritic cells were seen in close contact with the adjacent thyroid epithelial cells or infiltrating lymphocytes. The infiltrating degree of intrathyroidal dendritic cells in Graves' disease correlated closely with the values of serum TSAb (r = 0.4461, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that the intrathyroidal dendritic cells have a close relation with humoral immune disorder and play an important role in the initiation and/or maintenance of thyroid autoimmune reaction in Graves' disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China. rjmli@sina.com
authors.forename: Hui-juan
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dao-ming
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dong-ling
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Zhi-hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yun-han
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating / Q000097:blood; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating