Increased fetal abortion rate in autoimmune thyroid disease is related to circulating TPO autoantibodies in an autoimmune thyroiditis animal model.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the fertility and abortion rates in a mouse model of autoimmune thyroiditis and its relationship with circulating anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody.


METHODS
Experimental animal study.


METHODS
University research laboratory.


METHODS
C57bl/6 mice.


METHODS
Female C57bl/6 mice immunized with recombinant mouse TPO (rmTPO) in complete Freund adjuvant (CFA) or glutathione-S-transferase (GST-CFA) were allowed to mate. The pregnant mice were killed on day 14 of pregnancy for assessment of fetal development. The effects of TPO antibody on preimplantation embryo development and implantation rate were also studied.


METHODS
Litter size, resorption rate, preimplantation embryo development, and implantation rate.


RESULTS
All of the mice immunized with rmTPO-CFA possessed anti-TPO antibody. They had reduced litter size and increased incidence of resorbed fetus compared with the control. Higher serum TSH levels, but not T(4) levels, were demonstrated after rmTPO-CFA immunization. Anti-TPO antibody bound to preimplantation embryos. Treatment of the embryos with the antibody marginally decreased the formation of 3/4-cell embryos but had no effect on the subsequent development and implantation compared with the nonimmune control sera.


CONCLUSIONS
Autoimmune thyroiditis is associated with reduced fertility and higher incidence of fetal loss. The anti-TPO antibody may affect post-implantation embryo development, leading to fetal loss.
Lee
Yin Lau
YL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Republic of China.
Ng
Hang Pong
HP
Lau
Kam Shing
KS
Liu
Wei Min
WM
O
Wai Sum
WS
Yeung
William S B
WS
Kung
Annie W C
AW
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008098:Litter Size; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D001323:Autoantibodies; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase; D013974:Thyroxine