title: Increase in Peripheral CD3-CD56brightCD16- Natural Killer Cells in Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Associated with HHV-6 Infection.
abstract: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is a very common autoimmune disease of the thyroid. In addition to genetic background, several viruses, including herpesviruses, have been suggested to play a role as possible environmental triggers of disease, but conclusive data are still lacking. Previous results showed that HT patients have an increased cellular immune response directed against the HHV-6 U94 protein and increased NK activity directed against HHV-6 infected thyrocytes.In this study, we characterized the antiviral antibody response and the NK cells activity and subtype in HHV-6 infected HT patients. The results showed that HT subjects have increased prevalence and titer of anti-U94 antibodies and a higher amount of CD3-CD56(bright)CD16(-)NK cell percentages compared to controls. Furthermore, the cell activation of CD3(-)CD56(bright) NK cells in HT patients significantly correlates with TPO and Tg Ab levels.The results suggest that HHV-6 might contribute to HT development, increasing NK cell secretion of inflammatory cytokines that could sustain the persistence of an inflammatory status in HT patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences - Section of Microbiology and Medical Genetics, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari, 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: Section of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zatelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences - Section of Microbiology and Medical Genetics, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari, 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rotola
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences - Section of Microbiology and Medical Genetics, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari, 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cassai
authors.affiliation: Section of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Degli Uberti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences - Section of Microbiology and Medical Genetics, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari, 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy. dario.diluca@unife.it.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Luca
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences - Section of Microbiology and Medical Genetics, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari, 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caselli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015703:Antigens, CD; D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: HHV-6; Hashimoto’s thyroiditis; NK cells