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Interferon-γ administration does not affect human thyroid hormone metabolism in the post-surgical euthyroid sick syndrome

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Abstract

Cytokines are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis the euthyroid sick syndrome. Experimental data from in vitro and animal in vivo studies suggest that interferon-γ (IFN-γ) could be another cytokine that might influence thyroid hormone metabolism, although in a previous study in healthy subjects we could not demonstrate an effect of IFN-γ on thyroid hormone indices. Possibly, however, a non-stressed system is not a representative environment to study the effects of a mediator, which might exert its role during pathological circumstances in which it may interact synergistically with other inflammatory mediators. Therefore, we studied the effects of a single dose of recombinant human IFN-γ (Immukine, 100 μg/m2, sc) on thyroid hormone concentrations in a placebo-controlled trial in 13 major surgery patients. Basal IFN-γ levels did not increase. IFN-γ induced a significant increase in monocyte HLA-DR expression (post-operative 50%; 24 h after IFN-γ 90%), but did not affect thyroid hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone concentrations. We therefore conclude that IFN-γ does not appear to be involved in the major changes in thyroid hormone metabolism in patients with non-thyroidal illness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism Internal Medicine, F5-170, Academic Medical Center, P.O. Box 22660, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. de Metz &  H. P. Sauerwein

  2. Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    I. J. M. ten Berge

  3. Department of Renal Transplantation Unit, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    I. J. M. ten Berge

  4. Department of Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Division of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    I. J. M. ten Berge

  5. Department of Division of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    D. J. Gouma & O. R. C. Busch

  6. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Laboratory of Endocrinology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    E. Endert

  7. Department of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    J. A. Romijn

Authors
  1. J. de Metz
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  2. J. A. Romijn
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  3. D. J. Gouma
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  4. I. J. M. ten Berge
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  5. O. R. C. Busch
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  6. E. Endert
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  7. H. P. Sauerwein
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Correspondence to H. P. Sauerwein.

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de Metz, J., Romijn, J.A., Gouma, D.J. et al. Interferon-γ administration does not affect human thyroid hormone metabolism in the post-surgical euthyroid sick syndrome. J Endocrinol Invest 25, 315–320 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03344011

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03344011

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