Innate and acquired immune system in patients developing interferon-alpha-related autoimmune thyroiditis: a prospective study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

In this prospective study, we investigated whether the development of interferon (IFN)-alpha-related autoimmune thyroiditis (IFN-AT) was correlated with the sequential changes of cytokine pattern induced by IFNalpha in the peripheral lymphocytes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

We enrolled 18 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive patients who developed IFN-AT, eight patients with euthyroidism [IFN-AT(Eu)] and 10 with thyroid dysfunction [IFN-AT(Dy)]. Twenty HCV-positive patients without IFN-AT acted as control group (Co-HCV+). Intracellular expression of IFNgamma and IL-4 was evaluated by multicolor flow-cytometry analysis in peripheral lymphocytes in vitro stimulated by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) (25 ng/ml) and ionomycin (1 mug/ml) in presence of monensin (5 microm).

RESULTS:

At the appearance of thyroid disease, both IFN-AT(Eu) and IFN-AT(Dy) patients showed a significant increase of IFNgamma expression in CD3+CD56+ and CD3-CD56+ cells but not in CD4+ and CD8+ cells. At this time point, IFN-AT(Eu) but not IFN-AT(Dy) patients also showed an increase of IL-4 expression in CD3+CD56+ cells and CD4+ cells. Six months later, IFN-AT(Eu) patients maintained high expression of IL-4 in CD4+ and CD3+CD56+ cells without any further increase in IFNgamma expression. By contrast, IFN-AT(Dy) patients showed an increase of IFNgamma expression in CD4+ and CD8+ cells, with a concomitant decrease of IL-4 expression in CD4+ cells.

CONCLUSIONS:

Type 2 immune response is activated early and specifically in patients with IFN-AT who remain euthyroid throughout the follow-up. Predominant in patients developing thyroid dysfunction, by contrast, is the type 1 immune response that seems to occur earlier in innate than acquired immune system.

• Authors: G Mazziotti, F Sorvillo, M Piscopo, F Morisco, M Cioffi, G Stornaiuolo, G B Gaeta, A M Molinari, J H Lazarus, G Amato, C Carella
• Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 90 Issue 7 Pg. 4138-44 (Jul 2005) ISSN: 0021-972X [Print] United States
• PMID: 15855253 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Interferon-alpha
• Interleukin-4
• Interferon-gamma

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Humans
• Immunity, Innate
• Interferon-alpha (adverse effects)
• Interferon-gamma (biosynthesis)
• Interleukin-4 (biosynthesis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Th1 Cells (immunology)
• Th2 Cells (immunology)
• Thyroiditis, Autoimmune (etiology, immunology)