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- Title
Analysis of intrathyroidal cytokine production in thyroid autoimmune disease: thyroid follicular cells produce interleukin--lα and interleukin--6.
- Authors
Grubeck-Loebenstein, B.; Buchan, G.; Chantry, D.; Kassal, H.; Londei, M.; Pirich, K.; Barrett, K.; Turner, M.; Waldhausl, W.; Feldmann, M.
- Abstract
Cytokine production was studied in thyroid tissue from patients with Graves' disease. Hashimoto's thyroiditis and non-loxic goitre. The expression of interferon γ tumour necrosis factor α and β interleukin-1α and β, interleukin-6 and platelet-derived growth factor A chain was assessed by slot-blot analysis of the respective mRNA in freshly isolated tissue samples. All seven cytokines were detected in patients of all groups. Although the respective mRNA levels were, in general, higher in thyroid autoimmune disorders, this appeared to relate to the degree of the lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland at the time of surgery. Purified thyroid follicular cells expressed high levels of interleukin-1α and interleukin-6 mRNA and when established in primary culture, purified thyroid follicular cells from Graves' disease as well as non-toxic goitre produced interleukin-1α and interleukin-6 bioactivity spontaneously. In the case of interleukin-1 this could be further augmented by addition of lipopolysaccharide to the thyroid follicular cell cultures. These results demonstrate that the lymphocytic infiltrate found in autoimmune and non-autoimmune thyroid disorders is associated with cytokine production. Additionally we have shown that intrathyroidal cytokine production is not restricted to thyroid-infiltrating mononuclear cells, but may also involve thyroid follicular cells both in vivo and in vitro. The cytokines produced by thyroid follicular cells may have an important role in stimulating autoantigen specific T cells in vitro as both interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 facilitate T cell activation.
- Subjects
INTERLEUKINS; CELLULAR immunity; CYTOKINES; MESSENGER RNA; IMMUNOLOGIC diseases; GLYCOPROTEINS
- Publication
Clinical & Experimental Immunology, 1989, Vol 77, Issue 3, p324
- ISSN
0009-9104
- Publication type
Article