title: Interaction of lymphocytes and thyrocytes in Graves' disease and nonautoimmune thyroid diseases in immunohistochemical and ultrastructural investigations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Graves' disease is the archetype for organ-specific autoimmune disorders. It is very important for our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for progression of autoimmunity. The aim of this study was to present interactions of lymphocytes and thyrocytes in the thyroid tissue in Graves' disease and nonautoimmune thyroid diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 30 children with Graves' disease, 30 children with nodular goiter, 30 with simple goiter and 30 healthy children. After thyroidectomy, T cells were detected in the thyroid specimens by CD3, CD4, CD8 antibodies, B cells by CD79alpha antibodies and the antigen-presenting dendritic cells with CD1a antibodies (DakoCytomation) and were examined in the EM 900 Zeiss Germany Electron Microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most enhanced immune reaction was observed in the thyroid from children with Graves' disease. The cells of the immune system infiltrated the thyroid follicles and interfollicular compartments; they also formed lymph follicles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The immune reaction in Graves' disease and migration of lymphocytes T and B between thyrocytes results in the thickening of the basal membrane of the thyroid follicle. No cytotoxic effect of T cytotoxic/suppressor CD8+ cells on thyrocytes was observed in Graves' disease, while a mild cytotoxic effect was observed in non-autoimmune thyroid disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Endocrinology and Neurology, Lublin Medical University, Lublin, Poland. skowroneki@interia.pl
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ben-Skowronek
authors.forename: Jadwiga
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sierocinska-Sawa
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Szewczyk
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Korobowicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD