INTRATHYROID LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS IN PATIENTS WITH AUTOIMMUNE THYROID DISEASE

Abstract

Thyroid gland is an easily approachable for direct examination by aspiration biopsy organ. This fact gives a possibility for serial examination of liable disturbances in the immune regulation, connected with autoimmune thyroid disease and their response to the relevant therapy. Twenty-six patients with Basedow's disease (BD) and 12 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) - 34 women and 4 men (mean age 47,3 years) were studied. For determination of superficial markers of intrathyroidal mononuclear cells (ITMC) were used monoclonal antibodies for identification of total T-lymphocytes (CD3+), Т-helper/ inducer cells (CD4+), T-suppressor/cytotoxic eels (CD8+), B-lymphocytes (CD 19+), Nklymphocytes (CD16+56+), activated Т-lymphocytes (CD3+/HLA-DR+), interleukin-2 receptors (CD 25+), and the adhesion molecule ICAM-1 (CD54+). In the patients with BD the main lymphocyte subset was CD3+ with increased number of activated T-lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio (2,22) due to the decreased number of T-suppressor/cytotoxic cells. After the thyreostatic therapy there was a normalization of B-lymphocytes, activated Tlymphocytes and reduction of CD4/CD8 ratio, due to the increased number of T-suppressor/ cytotoxic cells. In patients with HT and hypothyroidism the main cell population consisted of CD3+cells and increased number of CD16+56+ cells as the CD4/CD8 ratio was decreased (0,98). The presence of increased percentage ofIL-2 receptors and of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 in these patients suggests a more pronounced activity of the autoimmune process.