The pattern of a TH1 cytokine in autoimmune thyroiditis

This study performed on 51 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and 15 healthy subjects was aimed at correlating the activation of T cells and the secretion of inflammatory cytokine with echography and thyroid functional assays. A significant increase of activated T cells was observed in Hashimoto patients illustrated by an increased percentage of CD3 + CD25 + T cells (P < 0.01). Similarly, increased amounts of IL-2, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma were in the serum of patients compared with the control group in which these cytokines are barely detectable. An in vitro study shows a significant increase of IL-2 and TNF-alpha upon the exposure to Concanavalin A. These results suggest that T(H)1 secreting inflammatory cytokines may contribute to pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroiditis. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.