title: Increase of interferon-γ inducible CXCL9 and CXCL11 serum levels in patients with active Graves' disease and modulation by methimazole therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL)9 and CXCL11 play an important role in the initial phases of autoimmune thyroiditis (AT); however, their serum levels in patients with Graves' disease (GD) have never been evaluated in relation to thyroid function and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate CXCL9 and CXCL11 serum levels in GD and to relate these parameters to the clinical phenotype, we measured CXCL9 and CXCL11 serum levels in 91 GD patients; 91 AT, 34 nontoxic multinodular goiters (MNGs), 31 toxic nodular goiters (TNGs), respectively; and 91 healthy controls (age- and sex-matched).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean CXCL9 and CXCL11 levels were higher in GD in comparison with controls, euthyroid AT, MNG, or TNG (p < 0.05, ANOVA; CXCL9: 274 ± 265, 76 ± 33, 132 ± 78, 87 ± 48, and 112 ± 56  pg/mL; CXCL11: 140 ± 92, 64 ± 20, 108 ± 48, 76 ± 33, 91 ± 41 pg/mL, respectively). Hyperthyroid GD patients had significantly higher CXCL9 or CXCL11 than euthyroid or hypothyroid GD patients. GD patients with untreated hyperthyroidism had higher CXCL9 or CXCL11 than hyperthyroid or euthyroid GD patients under methimazole (MMI) treatment. Comparable CXCL9 and CXCL11 levels were observed in newly diagnosed untreated hyperthyroid GD versus untreated patients with relapse of hyperthyroidism after a previous MMI course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum CXCL9 and CXCL11 levels are associated with the active phase of GD both in newly diagnosed and relapsing hyperthyroid patients. The reduction of serum CXCL9 and CXCL11 levels in treated patients with GD may be related to the immunomodulatory effects of MMI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa , Pisa, Italy .
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: Silvia Martina
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Alda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corrado
authors.forename: Ele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrannini
authors.forename: Poupak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fallahi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood; D054371:Chemokine CXCL11 / Q000097:blood*; D054370:Chemokine CXCL9 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008713:Methimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012008:Recurrence; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D013956:Antithyroid Agents; C111835:CCL2 protein, human; C515202:CXCL11 protein, human; C080810:CXCL9 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D054371:Chemokine CXCL11; D054370:Chemokine CXCL9; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008713:Methimazole; D007371:Interferon-gamma