title: Lymphocyte function following radioiodine therapy in patients with thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since the nuclear disaster in Fukushima has raised great concern about the danger of radioactivity, we here addressed the question if the therapeutic use of iodine 131, the most frequently applied radionuclide, was harmful to immune function in patients. It was our aim to define for the first time in a clinical setting how radioiodine therapy alters anti-microbial immune responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 21 patients with thyroid carcinoma anti-microbial lymphocyte responses were assessed by lymphocyte transformation test and ELISpot - measuring lymphocyte proliferation and on a single cell level production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (interferon-γ and interleukin-10) - prior to therapy, at day 1 and day 7 post therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proliferative lymphocyte responses and interferon-γ production after in vitro stimulation with microbial antigens were significantly (p < 0.05) increased at day 1 vs. pre therapy, and returned to pre therapy levels at day 7. On the contrary, at day 1 interleukin-10 production was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced. Thus, we observed a short-term increase in pro-inflammatory immune responses. However, T lymphocyte responses were in the range of healthy controls at all three time points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thyroid carcinoma patients receiving radioiodine therapy do not display any sign of immunosuppression.
authors: Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Virchowstraße 179, 45122 Essen, Germany. monika.lindemann@uk-essen.de
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Barsegian
authors: S P
authors: SP
authors: Müller
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: Horn
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Bockisch
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lindemann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals