Detection of enterovirus RNA in postoperative thyroid tissue specimens.
BACKGROUND
Autoimmune thyroiditis is a very common disease. A genetic predisposition and environmental factors such as viruses are thought to contribute to the development of autoimmune thyroiditis. Enteroviruses, which are involved in other autoimmune diseases, are attractive candidates.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the presence of enteroviral genome sequences in postoperative thyroid tissues with lymphocytic infiltration, a common histological feature of thyroiditis.


METHODS
Postoperative thyroid specimens collected prospectively from 86 patients were blindly frozen at -80 degrees C. The presence of EV genome sequences in the samples was blindly investigated by real-time RT-PCR. Clinical data, histological findings and levels of anti-TPO antibodies were collected.


RESULTS
EV-RNA detection was positive (up to 36 cycles) or weakly positive (37-39 cycles) in 22 out of 86 patients (25%). EV-RNA (positive or weakly positive signal) was detected in 5 out of 27 (18.5%) thyroid specimens with lymphocytic infiltration, and in 17 out of 59 (29%) thyroid specimens without lymphocytic infiltration (P = 0.4). No correlation was observed between EV-RNA detection in thyroid and the presence of anti-TPOAb. EV-RNA was detected in 3 out of 11 patients histologically diagnosed as thyroiditis (27.3%) and in 18 out of 74 patients (24.3%) with thyroid tumours (multinodular goitre, adenoma and carcinoma) (P = 0.5) and in one patient with a normal thyroid.


CONCLUSIONS
EV-RNA can be detected in thyroid tissue from patients with various thyroid diseases, but there is no relationship between the presence of EV-RNA and thyroiditis. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of EV in thyroid diseases.
Desailloud
Rachel
R
Laboratoire de Virologie/UPRES EA3610 Faculté de Médecine, Université Lille 2, CHRU Lille, Lille, France.
Goffard
Anne
A
Page
Cyril
C
Kairis
Benoit
B
Fronval
Stéphanie
S
Chatelain
Denis
D
Strunski
Vladimir
V
Dubreuil
Alain
A
Hober
Didier
D
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000097:blood; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D001324:Autoantigens; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; C056658:TPO protein, human; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase