title: Dynamic changes of CD4+CD25 + regulatory T cells in NOD.H-2h4 mice with iodine-induced autoimmune thyroiditis.
abstract: Iodine is an essential trace element for thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism, either low or high intake may lead to thyroid disease, but the pathogenetic mechanisms by which iodine interacts with the thyroid autoimmune are poorly understood. We investigated the dynamic changes of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in NOD.H-2(h4) mice with iodine-induced autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT), and explore potential immune mechanism of AIT induced by iodine. NOD.H-2(h4) mice were randomly divided into two groups, and received plain water or water containing 0.005% sodium iodide. Eight weeks after iodine provision, the incidences of thyroiditis, relative weights of thyroids, and serum thyroglobulin antibody titers in the iodine-supplied groups were significantly increased compared to the control groups (p < 0.05). The AIT mice had fewer CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells and reduced Foxp3 mRNA expression in splenocytes compared with the controls (p < 0.01), and maintained relatively low levels during the development of thyroiditis. The changes described above aggravated gradually with the extension of iodine treatment. These data suggest that CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells may be involved in the pathogenesis and development of AIT induced by iodine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China. xuehaibo@sina.com
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhongyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Yuanbin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yushu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaochun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Chenling
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Weiping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Teng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D007455:Iodine / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D007455:Iodine