Blood lymphocyte blastogenesis in patients with thyroid dysfunction: ex vivo response to mitogen activation and cyclosporin A.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate lymphocyte activation following mitogen and cyclosporin A (CsA) administration in peripheral blood of hyperthyroxinaemic and hypothyroid patients.


METHODS
Lymphocyte activation was evaluated by determining blastogenesis in 48 h cultured blood lymphocytes obtained from eight hyperthyroxinaemic and eight hypothyroid patients, following phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced stimulation in the absence or presence of CsA. Twelve healthy volunteers served as controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Lymphocytes from hypothyroid patients exhibited reduced response to PHA and lower sensitivity to CsA compared with control, which could be attributed to their reduced activation capability coexisting with hypothyroidism. In hyperthyroxinaemic samples, the actions of high CsA concentrations were mostly targeted toward activated lymphoblasts. Considering the cellular targets that thyroid hormones and CsA may share, the therapeutic implications of their cross-talk need careful consideration.
Papaioannou
Garyphallia
G
Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Athens, M. Asias 75, 11527 Athens, Greece.
Michelis
Fotios V
FV
Papamichael
Konstantinos
K
Karga
Helen
H
Tiligada
Ekaterini
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008934:Mitogens; D016572:Cyclosporine