Journal of Endocrinological Investigation

, Volume 7, Issue 6, pp 641–645 | Cite as

Autoimmune thyroid disease: purification and phenotypic analysis of intrathyroid T cells

  • G. W. Canonica
  • M. Caria
  • G. Torre
  • A. Risso
  • M. E. Cosulich
  • M. Bagnasco
Article
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Accepted:

Abstract

A phenotypic analysis of T cells infiltrating the thyroid of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (both Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) was performed. T lymphocytes were purified from mononuclear cells extracted from surgically removed tissue. The following markers were evaluated: la antigens, MLR4 antigen (expressed on activated T cells) 5/9 antigen (expressed on a subset of lymphocytes containing the whole “helper-inducer” activity in vitro), Fcy-receptors, B9 antigen (expressed by cytotoxic, or precursor of cytotoxic, T cells). We observed increased percentages of 5/9-, MLR4- and la-positive T cells with respect to peripheral blood in both HT and GD: on the contrary, in specimens from nonautoimmune thyroid diseases mononuclear infiltrate was minimal, and even T cell evaluation was not possible. In addition, B9- and Fcγ-positive T cells were increased in Hashimoto’s, but not in Graves’ thyroid tissue, thus suggesting a different role of cytotoxic effector mechanisms in the two diseases.

Key-words

Thyroid autoimmunity Graves’ disease Hashimoto’s thyroiditis T lymphocytes monoclonal antibodies 
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Copyright information

© Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE) 1984

Authors and Affiliations

  • G. W. Canonica
    • 1
  • M. Caria
    • 3
  • G. Torre
    • 3
  • A. Risso
    • 4
  • M. E. Cosulich
    • 4
  • M. Bagnasco
    • 2
  1. 1.Instituto Scientifico di Medicina Interna: Cattedre di EndocrinologiaUniversity of GenovaGenovaItaly
  2. 2.Semeiotica Medica 3aUniversity of GenovaGenovaItaly
  3. 3.Clinica Chirurgica RUniversity of GenovaGenovaItaly
  4. 4.Istituto di Chimica BiologicaUniversity of GenovaGenovaItaly

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