Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The T,B and antigen presenting cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

The aim of the studies was to analyse different regulatory cells subsets interaction in patients with Graves’ disease.

Material and methods: We have studied paraffin thyroid specimens obtained from 10 children with Graves’ disease after thiamazole treatment. The thyroid tissue was stained with hematoksylin-eosin (HE). The mononuclear T-cells were detected by CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ antibodies and the presenting antigen’s dendritic cells with CD1a and CD35 and antibodies (DakoCytomation Denmark).

Results: Thyroid tissue infiltrates were observed in HE staining. Intensivity of infiltrates was correlated with time of thiamazole treatment.

The B cell CD3+ and T suppressor/cytotoxic cell CD8+ between thyroid follicles. In the 4 patients with thiamazole short treatment (<6 mc) the lymphocytes have formed the lymphatic follicles in thyroid tissue. We have observed dendritic cells presenting antigen (APC) CD1a+ in reproduction centre. On the edges of lymphatic follicles were present lymphocytes T-helper CD4+, T-suppressor CD8+ and B-cells CD79+. In 6 patients after long thiamazole therapy the B and T cells were rarely observed in interstitium. It was interesting, that thyrocytes revealed positive reaction with CD1a monoclonaly antibody, which detected transmembrane α-chain connected with β-l microglobulin.

Conclusions: In the active states of Graves’ disease, lymphocytes T, B and antigen presenting cells are present in big amount in interstitium and in lymphatic follicles. Thiamazole treatment leads to reduction of their amount.

Thyrocytes can have in their structure components similar to α-chains connected with β-microglobulins, which are characteristic for APS.

Grant 2P05E04327 Min. Science and Inform. Poland