BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to analyze subsets of lymphocytes in peripheral blood in the early phase and in the thyroid tissue in the late phase of Graves' disease (GD) in children. METHODS: The study included 30 children with GD and 30 healthy children. Monoclonal antibodies were used to define peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and they were analyzed using the flow cytometer Ortho Diagnostic System. After thyroidectomy, T cells were detected by CD3, CD4, CD8 antibodies, B cells by CD79alpha antibodies, and the antigen presenting dendritic cells (APCs) by CD1alpha antibodies (DakoCytomation) in the thyroid tissue. RESULTS: Before the treatment, an increased percentage of CD4+ T helper cells and B cells and decreased CD8+ T suppressor/cytotoxic cells were observed in peripheral blood in all the GD children. The number of lymphocytes and dendritic cells in the thyroid tissue increased in the children with GD in comparison to the control group, especially T cells subsets CD4+ and CD8+ and CD79alpha+ B cells. The percentage of T cells in the thyroid tissue was lower and that of B cells was higher than in peripheral blood. In their structure, thyrocytes can have components similar to alpha-chains connected with beta-microglobulins, which were characteristic for APCs. CONCLUSIONS: The primary defect of immunoregulation in children with GD is probably dependent on a large number and the activity of T helper cells and on a small number and hypofunction of T suppressor cells. The amount of lymphocytes decreased proportionally to the duration of methimazole treatment. The thyrocytes probably can present antigens.
BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to analyze subsets of lymphocytes in peripheral blood in the early phase and in the thyroid tissue in the late phase of Graves' disease (GD) in children. METHODS: The study included 30 children with GD and 30 healthy children. Monoclonal antibodies were used to define peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and they were analyzed using the flow cytometer Ortho Diagnostic System. After thyroidectomy, T cells were detected by CD3, CD4, CD8 antibodies, B cells by CD79alpha antibodies, and the antigen presenting dendritic cells (APCs) by CD1alpha antibodies (DakoCytomation) in the thyroid tissue. RESULTS: Before the treatment, an increased percentage of CD4+ T helper cells and B cells and decreased CD8+ T suppressor/cytotoxic cells were observed in peripheral blood in all the GDchildren. The number of lymphocytes and dendritic cells in the thyroid tissue increased in the children with GD in comparison to the control group, especially T cells subsets CD4+ and CD8+ and CD79alpha+ B cells. The percentage of T cells in the thyroid tissue was lower and that of B cells was higher than in peripheral blood. In their structure, thyrocytes can have components similar to alpha-chains connected with beta-microglobulins, which were characteristic for APCs. CONCLUSIONS: The primary defect of immunoregulation in children with GD is probably dependent on a large number and the activity of T helper cells and on a small number and hypofunction of T suppressor cells. The amount of lymphocytes decreased proportionally to the duration of methimazole treatment. The thyrocytes probably can present antigens.
Authors: T Arao; I Morimoto; A Kakinuma; O Ishida; K Zeki; Y Tanaka; N Ishikawa; K Ito; K Ito; S Eto Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2000-01 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: M E Ludgate; A M McGregor; A P Weetman; S Ratanachaiyavong; J H Lazarus; R Hall; G W Middleton Journal: Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) Date: 1984-02-18
Authors: Carmen Segundo; Carmen Rodríguez; Manuel Aguilar; Antonio García-Poley; Inmaculada Gavilán; Carmen Bellas; José A Brieva Journal: Thyroid Date: 2004-05 Impact factor: 6.568
Authors: M Marazuela; A A Postigo; A Acevedo; F Díaz-González; F Sanchez-Madrid; M O de Landázuri Journal: Eur J Immunol Date: 1994-10 Impact factor: 5.532