title: Genes and Environment as Predisposing Factors in Autoimmunity: Acceleration of Spontaneous Thyroiditis by Dietary Iodide in NOD.H2h4Mice.
abstract: In the field of autoimmune thyroiditis, NOD.H2h4mice have attracted significant and increasing attention since they not only develop spontaneous disease but they present thyroiditis with accelerated incidence and severity if they ingest iodide through their drinking water. This animal model highlights the interplay between genetic and dietary factors in the triggering of autoimmune disease and offers new opportunities to study immunoregulatory parameters influenced by both genes and environment. Here, we review experimental findings with this mouse model of thyroiditis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland , St. John's, NL , Canada.
authors.forename: Panayota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kolypetri
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Mani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larijani
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carayanniotis
keywords: NOD.H2h4 mice; iodine; thyroglobulin; thyroiditis