title: Low levels of circulating platelet factor 4 (PF4, CXCL4) in subclinically hypothyroid autoimmune thyroiditis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chemokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases. Platelet factor 4 (PF4, CXCL4) released from activated platelets is a chemokine. However, its clinical importance in autoimmune thyroiditis remains unknown. This study is intended to determine circulating levels of PF4 levels in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Circulating levels of PF4 were measured in 34 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed AIT and 18 euthyroid controls. Among AIT group, 16 patients were euthyroid and 18 had subclinic hypothyroidism. Controls and individuals with AIT were similar in terms of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of PF4 were comparable in patients with AIT and in controls. Among patients with AIT, PF4 was significantly lower in those with subclinical hypothyroidism than in euthyroid individuals (p = 0.001). In correlation analysis, PF4 was negatively correlated with TSH (r = -0.663, p = 0.000) and positively correlated with free T4 (r = 0.428, p = 0.012). There was not any significant correlation between PF4 and AbTPO, AbTg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrated for the first time that circulating PF4 levels are decreased in subclinically hypothyroid AIT. This result draws attention to the circulating PF4 levels in subclinically hypothyroid AIT and may shed light on further researches at this topic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey. sgorar@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Görar
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ademoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Erzurum Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Çarlıoğlu
authors.affiliation: Director of Hematology Laboratories, Department of Pediatric Hematology, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alioğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bekdemir
authors.affiliation: Hematology Laboratories, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sağlam
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Candan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Van Yuzuncu Yıl University, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Üçler
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Culha
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aral
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001324:Autoantigens; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008875:Middle Aged; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D015415:Biomarkers; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; C006606:anti-thyroglobulin; C056626:thyroid microsomal antibodies; D010978:Platelet Factor 4; D013972:Thyrotropin; C056658:TPO protein, human; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase; D013974:Thyroxine
keywords: Autoimmune thyroiditis; Chemokines; Platelet factor (PF4, CXCL4)