Infection and thyroid autoimmunity: A seroepidemiologic study of TPOaAb.
Infectious agents have been implicated as triggers of autoimmunity. Prospective epidemiologic studies of infection with specific pathogens and the subsequent elevation of specific autoantibodies are difficult and costly to conduct. As a result, a solid body of evidence regarding this theoretically intriguing connection remains to be accrued. We studied term sera from 1807 pregnancies in 1591 women for whom IgG status for cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, and/or Toxoplasma gondii was available from prior analyses. We tested the sera (masked regarding infectious status) for autoantibodies to thyroid peroxidase (TPOaAb) and then unmasked and linked them. Adjusted for other cofactors, prior infection with T. gondii was associated significantly with the elevation of TPOaAb, whereas seropositivity for other infections was not. Negative and positive findings for suspected triggers of autoimmunity should be reported to build the evidentiary basis needed to advance our understanding of the disease process. The positive association observed between prior infection with T. gondii and the elevation of TPOaAb is supported by an almost simultaneous study. These findings require further investigation. We believe that if T. gondii is in fact confirmed to trigger or enhance a TPOaAb response, the most likely mechanism involved is the bystander effect.
Wasserman
Ellen E
EE
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. ewasser1@jhmi.edu
Nelson
Kenrad
K
Rose
Noel R
NR
Rhode
Charles
C
Pillion
Joseph P
JP
Seaberg
Eric
E
Talor
Monica V
MV
Burek
Lynne
L
Eaton
William
W
Duggan
Anne
A
Yolken
Robert H
RH
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase