title: How do T cells mediate autoimmune thyroiditis?
abstract: Susceptibility to experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) is linked to the mouse H-2 complex(1). Initiation of the condition by the thyroid antigen, thyroglobulin (Tg), requires T cells from susceptible mice(2). These T cells are autoreactive in that they recognize Tg and proliferate in vitro in response to it(3). The 1980s have brought forth confirmatory data from several laboratories on T-cell autoreactivity to mouse Tg both in vivo(4,5) and in vitro(6-13), and its correlation with EAT susceptibility. T cells from patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), may proliferate in response to stimulation in vitro with human Tg(14-16). The capacity of murine T cells to expand and differentiate in vitro(17,18) and to serve as effector cells causing thyroiditis in vivo(7,8, 11,12) is strongly indicative of their pathogenic role. We are now in a position to discuss not only if T cells mediate autoimmune thyroiditis, but how they might contribute to the pathogenic process. At least two antigen-activated T-cell subsets seem to participate in initiating and perpetuating thyroid destruction. In this article, Yi-chi Kong and her colleagues present a synopsis of the supporting data from the mouse model and parallel findings from HT patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit MI 48201 USA; Istituto Scientifico di Medicina Intema, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit MI 48201 USA; Istituto Scientifico di Medicina Intema, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bagnasco
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit MI 48201 USA; Istituto Scientifico di Medicina Intema, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Canonica