Serum BAFF and thyroid autoantibodies in autoimmune thyroid disease.
BACKGROUND
This study investigated the association of serum B-lymphocyte activating factor (BAFF) levels with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) in a Chinese population.


METHODS
We enrolled 221 patients with AITD [170 patients with Graves' disease (GD), 51 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT)], and 124 healthy controls. Serum BAFF levels, thyroid function and thyroid autoantibody (TAb) levels, including of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TSHRAb), anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (Anti-TPO Ab), and antithyroglobulin antibody (ATA), were measured at baseline.


RESULTS
Serum BAFF levels were higher in the GD, HT, and AITD groups than in the control group. Significant correlations were observed between BAFF and TSHRAb levels (r=0.238, p=0.018), between BAFF and Anti-TPO Ab levels (p=0.038), and between BAFF and ATA titers (p=0.025) in women but not in men. In addition, serum BAFF levels were significantly associated with free thyroxine (r=0.430, p=0.004) and TSHRAb (r=0.495, p=0.001) levels in women with active GD but not in those with inactive GD.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum BAFF levels are increased in GD, HT, and AITD. The correlation between serum BAFF and TAb levels exhibits a dimorphic pattern, particularly in active GD.
Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Jiunn-Diann
JD
Lin
Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Medical Research, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC.
Yuan-Hung
YH
Wang
Department of Family Medicine, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC.
Wen-Fang
WF
Fang
Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Chia-Jung
CJ
Hsiao
Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Amarzaya
A
Chagnaadorj
Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Division of Nephrology Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC.
Yuh-Feng
YF
Lin
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Kam-Tsun
KT
Tang
Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: ccheng@tmu.edu.tw.
Chao-Wen
CW
Cheng
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013624:Taiwan; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human
Autoantibody; Autoimmune thyroid disease; B-lymphocyte activating factor; Graves' disease; Hashimoto's thyroiditis