title: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor interacting with Th17 cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune damage in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the possible role of MIF and Th17 cells in the thyroid-specific autoimmune damage of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 40 HT patients and 30 healthy controls and divided HT patients into euthyroid subset (n = 22) and subclinical or overt hypothyroidism subset (n = 18). The percentages of Th17 cells and expressions of MIF, interleukin 17A (IL-17A) mRNA in PBMCs, as well as serum concentrations of MIF, and IL-17A, and thyroid functions, and thyroid-specific autoantibodies (TPOAb, TgAb) were detected by flow cytometry, real-time RT-PCR, ELISA, and ECLIA in all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MIF mRNA, IL-17A mRNA expressions and Th17 cells percentages, serum MIF, and IL-17A protein levels were all significantly higher in HT patients, even in euthyroid subgroup. Additionally, the differences became more obvious in dysfunction subgroup. Importantly, both MIF levels and Th17 cells percentage were positively correlated with serum TPOAb, TgAb, and thyrotropin (TSH) levels in HT patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that MIF and Th17 cells increased dynamically and positively correlated with the markers of thyroid autoimmune damage, which indicated that interaction between MIF and Th17 cells may participate in the pathogenesis and development of thyroid-specific autoimmunity in HT.
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 661 Second Huanghe Road, Binzhou 256603, China.
authors: Haibo
authors: H
authors: Xue
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Wudi County People's Hospital, Tengda Street, Wudi 251900, China.
authors: Yuhua
authors: Y
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 661 Second Huanghe Road, Binzhou 256603, China.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 661 Second Huanghe Road, Binzhou 256603, China.
authors: Shoujun
authors: S
authors: Song
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 661 Second Huanghe Road, Binzhou 256603, China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Dermatology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 661 Second Huanghe Road, Binzhou 256603, China.
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Ma
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 661 Second Huanghe Road, Binzhou 256603, China.
authors: Tingting
authors: T
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 661 Second Huanghe Road, Binzhou 256603, China.
authors: Huan
authors: H
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D020381:Interleukin-17; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C515598:MIF protein, human