Interaction of lymphocytes and thyrocytes in Graves' disease and nonautoimmune thyroid diseases in immunohistochemical and ultrastructural investigations.
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.
Ben-Skowronek
Iwona
I
Department of Paediatric Endocrinology and Neurology, Lublin Medical University, Lublin, Poland. skowroneki@interia.pl
Sierocinska-Sawa
Jadwiga
J
Szewczyk
Leszek
L
Korobowicz
Elzbieta
E
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
D015703:Antigens, CD