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Ragusa F, Fallahi P, Elia G, Gonnella D, Paparo SR, Giusti C, Churilov LP, Ferrari SM, Antonelli A. Hashimotos' thyroiditis: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinic and therapy. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2019; 33:101367. [PMID: 31812326 DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2019.101367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), the most frequent autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITDs), is the leading cause of hypothyroidism in the iodine-sufficient areas of the world. About 20-30% of patients suffers from HT, whose cause is thought to be a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors that causes the loss of immunological tolerance, with a consequent autoimmune attack to the thyroid tissue and appearance of the disease. The pathologic features of lymphocytic infiltration, especially of T cells, and follicular destruction are the histological hallmark of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT), that lead to gradual atrophy and fibrosis. An important role in the immune-pathogenesis of AITDs is due to chemokines and cytokines. In about 20% of patients, AITDs are associated with other organ specific/systemic autoimmune disorders. Many studies have demonstrated the relationship between papillary thyroid cancer and AITD. The treatment of hypothyroidism, as result of AIT, consists in daily assumption of synthetic levothyroxine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Ragusa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research of New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Debora Gonnella
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | | | - Claudia Giusti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Leonid P Churilov
- Laboratory of the Mosaic of Autoimmunity, Saint Petersburg State University, Russia.
| | | | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
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Xuan M, Zhao SX, Yan CY, Yang J, Li Y, Song LG, Song HD, Zhang XZ. Fine mapping of thyroglobulin gene identifies two independent risk loci for Graves' disease in Chinese Han population. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2019; 7:434. [PMID: 31700870 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2019.08.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background This study aimed to determine independent risk loci of Graves' disease (GD) in the thyroglobulin (TG) region. Methods In this two-staged association study, a total of 9,757 patients with GD and 10,626 sex-matched controls were recruited from Chinese Han population. Illumina Human660-Quad BeadChips in the discovery stage and TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays in the replication stage were used for genotyping. Trend test and logistic regression analysis were performed in this association study. Results In the discovery stage, rs2294025 and rs7005834 were the most highly associated susceptibility loci with GD in TG. In the replication phase, 7 SNPs, including rs2294025 and rs7005834, were selected for fine-mapping. Finally, we confirmed that rs2294025 and rs7005834 were the independent risk loci of GD in the combined populations. At the same time, there was no significant difference between the risk allele frequencies of rs2294025 and rs7005834 in different clinical phenotypes of GD. Conclusions The fine mapping study of thyroglobulin identified two independent SNPs (rs2294025 and rs7005834) for GD susceptibility. However, no significant differences for rs2294025 and rs7005834 were observed, between the different clinical phenotypes of GD, including gender, Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO), and serum levels of thyrotropin receptor antibody, thyroid peroxidase antibody, and thyroglobulin antibody. These results provide a deeper understanding of the association mechanism of thyroglobulin and GD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Xuan
- Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Shuang-Xia Zhao
- The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Chen-Yan Yan
- The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Clinical Skill Practice and Training Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Li-Ge Song
- Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Huai-Dong Song
- The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Xiu-Zhen Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
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Abstract
Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrial cells outside the uterine cavity. Thyroid autoimmunity has been associated with endometriosis. This work investigated the potential pathophysiological link between endometriosis and thyroid disorders. Transcripts and proteins involved in thyroid metabolism are dysregulated in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of endometriotic patients, leading to resistance of ectopic endometrium to triiodothyronine (T3) action and local accumulation of thyroxine (T4). Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) acts as a proliferative and prooxidative hormone on all endometria of endometriosis patients and controls, whereas T3 and T4 act to specifically increase ectopic endometrial cell proliferation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Mouse studies confirmed the data gained in vitro since endometriotic implants were found to be bigger when thyroid hormones increased. A retrospective analysis of endometriosis patients with or without a thyroid disorder revealed an increased chronic pelvic pain and disease score in endometriotic patients with a thyroid disorder.
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Liu X, Mao J, Han C, Peng S, Li C, Jin T, Fan C, Shan Z, Teng W. CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 ameliorates thyroid damage in autoimmune thyroiditis in NOD.H‑2h⁴ mice. Mol Med Rep 2016; 13:3604-12. [PMID: 26935473 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.4965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) and its receptor, CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), are upregulated in mice with autoimmune thyroid diseases. However, whether this interaction is involved in the pathophysiology of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) remains to be elucidated. In the present study, the effects of the CXCR4 antagonist, AMD3100, in an iodine‑induced autoimmune thyroiditis model were investigated. NOD.H‑2h4 mice were randomly separated into a control, AIT and AIT+AMD3100 groups. The mice were fed with 0.05% sodium iodide water for 8 weeks to induce AIT. The AMD3100‑treated mice were administered with the CXCR4 antagonist at a dose of 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally three times a week during the experimental period. The percentages of CD19+interleukin (IL)10+ B cells and CD4+IL10+ T cells, and the mRNA expression levels of IL10 in the splenocytes were reduced in the AIT group, compared with the control group, however, they increased following AMD3100 treatment, compared with the untreated AIT group. The percentages of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD19+ B cells and CD8+ interferon (IFN)γ+ T cells, and the mRNA expression levels of IFNγ increased in the AIT group, compared with the control group, however, these were reduced in the AMD3100 group, compared with the AIT group. The AMD3100‑treated mice also had lower serum thyroglobulin antibody titers and reduced lymphocytic infiltration in the thyroid, compared with the untreated AIT mice. These results suggested that inhibition of this chemokine axis may offer potential as a therapeutic target for the treatment of AIT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Endocrine Institute and Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrine Diseases, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Jinyuan Mao
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Endocrine Institute and Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrine Diseases, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Cheng Han
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Endocrine Institute and Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrine Diseases, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Shiqiao Peng
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Endocrine Institute and Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrine Diseases, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Chenyan Li
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Endocrine Institute and Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrine Diseases, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Ting Jin
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Endocrine Institute and Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrine Diseases, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Chenling Fan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Endocrine Institute and Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrine Diseases, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Zhongyan Shan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Endocrine Institute and Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrine Diseases, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Weiping Teng
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Endocrine Institute and Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrine Diseases, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
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Lombardi A, Menconi F, Greenberg D, Concepcion E, Leo M, Rocchi R, Marinó M, Keddache M, Tomer Y. Dissecting the Genetic Susceptibility to Graves' Disease in a Cohort of Patients of Italian Origin. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2016; 7:21. [PMID: 27014188 PMCID: PMC4781855 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2016.00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune oligogenic disorder with a strong hereditary component. Several GD susceptibility genes have been identified and confirmed during the last two decades. However, there are very few studies that evaluated susceptibility genes for GD in specific geographic subsets. Previously, we mapped a new locus on chromosome 3q that was unique to GD families of Italian origin. In the present study, we used association analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) at the 3q locus in a cohort of GD patients of Italian origin in order to prioritize the best candidates among the known genes in this locus to choose the one(s) best supported by the association. DNA samples were genotyped using the Illumina GoldenGate genotyping assay analyzing 690 SNP in the linked 3q locus covering all 124 linkage disequilibrium blocks in this locus. Candidate non-HLA (human-leukocyte-antigen) genes previously reported to be associated with GD and/or other autoimmune disorders were analyzed separately. Three SNPs in the 3q locus showed a nominal association (p < 0.05): rs13097181, rs763313, and rs6792646. Albeit these could not be further validated by multiple comparison correction, we were prioritizing candidate genes at a locus already known to harbor a GD-related gene, not hypothesis testing. Moreover, we found significant associations with the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) gene, the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) gene, and the thyroglobulin (TG) gene. In conclusion, we identified three SNPs on chromosome 3q that may map a new GD susceptibility gene in this region which is unique to the Italian population. Furthermore, we confirmed that the TSHR, the CTLA-4, and the TG genes are associated with GD in Italians. Our findings highlight the influence of ethnicity and geographic variations on the genetic susceptibility to GD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Lombardi
- Division of Endocrinology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- *Correspondence: Angela Lombardi, ; Yaron Tomer,
| | | | - David Greenberg
- Battelle Center for Mathematical Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Erlinda Concepcion
- Division of Endocrinology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marenza Leo
- Endocrinology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Mehdi Keddache
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Yaron Tomer
- Division of Endocrinology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Bronx VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- *Correspondence: Angela Lombardi, ; Yaron Tomer,
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Xu N, Ji YX, Qiao C. The complete mitochondrial genome for an autoimmune thyroiditis mouse strain NOD.H-2h4. Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal 2015; 27:4104-4105. [PMID: 25648927 DOI: 10.3109/19401736.2014.1003864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune thyroiditis is a chronic organ-specific autoimmune disease characterized by mononuclear cell infiltration of the thyroid gland and destruction of thyroid follicles by the infiltrating inflammatory cells. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome sequencing of an autoimmune thyroiditis mouse strain NOD.H-2h4 for the first time. The total length of the mitogenome was 16,310 bp and contains 159 SNPs compared with the house mouse reference sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Xu
- a Department of Endocrinology , Nanyang Central Hospital of Henan Province , Nanyang , China
| | - Yin-Xi Ji
- a Department of Endocrinology , Nanyang Central Hospital of Henan Province , Nanyang , China
| | - Cong Qiao
- a Department of Endocrinology , Nanyang Central Hospital of Henan Province , Nanyang , China
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Kanistras I, Hatzioannou A, Lymberi P. A novel pathogenic peptide of thyroglobulin (2208-2227) induces autoreactive T-cell and B-cell responses in both high and low responder mouse strains. Immunology 2014; 142:300-6. [PMID: 24758369 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Revised: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) is commonly induced by thyroglobulin (Tg) or Tg peptides in mice genetically susceptible to thyroiditis. In the present study, we investigated the immunogenic and pathogenic potential of a novel 20mer human Tg peptide, p2208 (amino acids 2208-2227), in mouse strains classified as low (LR) or high (HR) responders in EAT. The peptide was selected for its content in overlapping binding motifs for MHC class II products, associated with either resistance (A(b)), or susceptibility (A(s), E(k)) to EAT. We therefore immunized LR BALB/c (H-2(d)) and C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) strains, as well as HR CBA/J (H-2(k)) and SJL/J (H-2(s)) mice with 100 nmol of p2208 in adjuvant and collected their sera, lymph nodes and thyroid glands for further analysis. The p2208 peptide was found to contain B-cell and cryptic T-cell epitope(s) in two of the four strains examined, one LR and one HR. Specifically, it elicited direct EAT in C57BL/6 mice (two of seven mice, infiltration index 1-3), as well as in SJL/J mice (two of six mice, infiltration index 1-2). Such an EAT model could provide insights into the immunoregulatory cascades taking place in resistant hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Kanistras
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
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8
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Tomer Y. Mechanisms of autoimmune thyroid diseases: from genetics to epigenetics. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY-MECHANISMS OF DISEASE 2014; 9:147-56. [PMID: 24460189 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-012513-104713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in our understanding of genetic-epigenetic interactions have unraveled new mechanisms underlying the etiology of complex autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) are highly prevalent, affecting 1% to 5% of the population. The major AITDs include Graves disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT); although these diseases contrast clinically, their pathogenesis involves shared immunogenetic mechanisms. Genetic data point to the involvement of both shared and unique genes. Among the shared susceptibility genes, HLA-DRβ1-Arg74 (human leukocyte antigen DR containing an arginine at position β74) confers the strongest risk. Recent genome-wide analyses have revealed new putative candidate genes. Epigenetic modulation is emerging as a major mechanism by which environmental factors interact with AITD susceptibility genes. Dissecting the genetic-epigenetic interactions underlying the pathogenesis of AITD is essential to uncover new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaron Tomer
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029;
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9
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Fang Y, Sharp GC, Braley-Mullen H. Effect of transgenic overexpression of FLIP on lymphocytes on development and resolution of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2011; 179:1211-20. [PMID: 21763264 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.05.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2010] [Revised: 04/26/2011] [Accepted: 05/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In our previous studies, resolution of granulomatous experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (G-EAT) was promoted when thyroid epithelial cells were protected from Fas-mediated apoptosis due to transgenic overexpression of FLIP. We hypothesized that if FLIP were overexpressed on lymphocytes, CD4(+) effector cells would be protected from Fas-mediated apoptosis, and resolution would be delayed. To test this hypothesis, we generated transgenic (Tg) mice overexpressing FLIP under the CD2 promoter. Transgenic FLIP was expressed on CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and B cells. Transgenic overexpression of FLIP protected cultured splenocytes from Fas-mediated, but not irradiation-induced, apoptosis in vitro. Unexpectedly, Tg(+) donor cells transferred minimal G-EAT, which was partially overcome by depleting donor CD8(+) T cells. When Tg(+) and Tg(-) donors transferred equivalent disease, G-EAT resolution was delayed in FLIP transgenic mice. However, CD2-FLIP Tg(+) donors often transferred less severe G-EAT, even after depletion of CD8(+) T cells. This influenced the rate of G-EAT resolution, resulting in little difference in G-EAT resolution between groups. Tg(+) mice always had reduced anti-mouse thyroglobulin autoantibody responses, compared with Tg(-) littermates, presumably because of FLIP overexpression on B cells. These results suggest that effects of transgenic FLIP on a particular autoimmune disease vary, depending on what cells express the transgene and whether those cells are effector cells or if they function to modulate disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujiang Fang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
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Jacobson EM, Concepcion E, Ho K, Kopp P, Vono Toniolo J, Tomer Y. cDNA immunization of mice with human thyroglobulin generates both humoral and T cell responses: a novel model of thyroid autoimmunity. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19200. [PMID: 21559421 PMCID: PMC3084781 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2010] [Accepted: 03/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroglobulin (Tg) represents one of the largest known self-antigens involved in autoimmunity. Numerous studies have implicated it in triggering and perpetuating the autoimmune response in autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD). Indeed, traditional models of autoimmune thyroid disease, experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), are generated by immunizing mice with thyroglobulin protein in conjunction with an adjuvant, or by high repeated doses of Tg alone, without adjuvant. These extant models are limited in their experimental flexibility, i.e. the ability to make modifications to the Tg used in immunizations. In this study, we have immunized mice with a plasmid cDNA encoding the full-length human Tg (hTG) protein, in order to generate a model of Hashimoto's thyroiditis which is closer to the human disease and does not require adjuvants to breakdown tolerance. Human thyroglobulin cDNA was injected and subsequently electroporated into skeletal muscle using a square wave generator. Following hTg cDNA immunizations, the mice developed both B and T cell responses to Tg, albeit with no evidence of lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid. This novel model will afford investigators the means to test various hypotheses which were unavailable with the previous EAT models, specifically the effects of hTg sequence variations on the induction of thyroiditis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M Jacobson
- Division of Endocrinology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America.
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Bhattacharya P, Gopisetty A, Ganesh BB, Sheng JR, Prabhakar BS. GM-CSF-induced, bone-marrow-derived dendritic cells can expand natural Tregs and induce adaptive Tregs by different mechanisms. J Leukoc Biol 2010; 89:235-49. [PMID: 21048215 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.0310154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In our earlier work, we had shown that GM-CSF treatment of CBA/J mice can suppress ongoing thyroiditis by inducing tolerogenic CD8α(-) DCs, which helped expand and/or induce CD4(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs. To identify the primary cell type that was affected by the GM-CSF treatment and understand the mechanism by which Tregs were induced, we compared the effect of GM-CSF on matured spDCs and BMDC precursors in vitro. Matured spDCs exposed to GM-CSF ex vivo induced only a modest increase in the percentage of Foxp3-expressing T cells in cocultures. In contrast, BM cells, when cultured in the presence of GM-CSF, gave rise to a population of CD11c(+)CD11b(Hi)CD8α(-) DCs (BMDCs), which were able to expand Foxp3(+) Tregs upon coculture with CD4(+) T cells. This contact-dependent expansion occurred in the absence of TCR stimulation and was abrogated by OX40L blockage. Additionally, the BMDCs secreted high levels of TGF-β, which was required and sufficient for adaptive differentiation of T cells to Foxp3(+) Tregs, only upon TCR stimulation. These results strongly suggest that the BMDCs differentiated by GM-CSF can expand nTregs and induce adaptive Tregs through different mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Palash Bhattacharya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois, Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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Tomer Y, Huber A. The etiology of autoimmune thyroid disease: a story of genes and environment. J Autoimmun 2009; 32:231-9. [PMID: 19307103 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2009.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2009] [Accepted: 02/11/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), including Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) are prevalent autoimmune diseases, affecting up to 5% of the general population. Autoimmune thyroid diseases arise due to complex interactions between environmental and genetic factors. Significant progress has been made in our understanding of the genetic and environmental triggers contributing to AITD. However, the interactions between genes and environment are yet to be defined. Among the major AITD susceptibility genes that have been identified and characterized is the HLA-DR gene locus, as well as non-MHC genes including the CTLA-4, CD40, PTPN22, thyroglobulin, and TSH receptor genes. The major environmental triggers of AITD include iodine, medications, infection, smoking, and possibly stress. Recent data on the genetic predisposition to AITD lead to novel putative mechanisms by which the genetic-environmental interactions may lead to the development of thyroid autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaron Tomer
- Division of Endocrinology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, The Vontz Center for Molecular Studies, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
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Dultz G, Dittmar M, Kahaly GJ. Genetik der Schilddrüsenautoimmunität – Update und klinische Relevanz. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 104:210-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s00063-009-1034-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2009] [Accepted: 01/17/2009] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Huber A, Menconi F, Corathers S, Jacobson EM, Tomer Y. Joint genetic susceptibility to type 1 diabetes and autoimmune thyroiditis: from epidemiology to mechanisms. Endocr Rev 2008; 29:697-725. [PMID: 18776148 PMCID: PMC2583387 DOI: 10.1210/er.2008-0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) frequently occur together within families and in the same individual. The co-occurrence of T1D and AITD in the same patient is one of the variants of the autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 3 [APS3 variant (APS3v)]. Epidemiological data point to a strong genetic influence on the shared susceptibility to T1D and AITD. Recently, significant progress has been made in our understanding of the genetic association between T1D and AITD. At least three genes have been confirmed as major joint susceptibility genes for T1D and AITD: human leukocyte antigen class II, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), and protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22. Moreover, the first whole genome linkage study has been recently completed, and additional genes will soon be identified. Not unexpectedly, all the joint genes for T1D and AITD identified so far are involved in immune regulation, specifically in the presentation of antigenic peptides to T cells. One of the lessons learned from the analysis of the joint susceptibility genes for T1D and AITD is that subset analysis is a key to dissecting the etiology of complex diseases. One of the best demonstrations of the power of subset analysis is the CTLA-4 gene in T1D. Although CTLA-4 showed very weak association with T1D, when analyzed in the subset of patients with both T1D and AITD, the genetic effect of CTLA-4 was significantly stronger. Gene-gene and genetic-epigenetic interactions most likely play a role in the shared genetic susceptibility to T1D and AITD. Dissecting these mechanisms will lead to a better understanding of the etiology of T1D and AITD, as well as autoimmunity in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Huber
- Division of Endocrinology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA
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Fang Y, DeMarco VG, Sharp GC, Braley-Mullen H. Expression of transgenic FLIP on thyroid epithelial cells inhibits induction and promotes resolution of granulomatous experimental autoimmune thyroiditis in CBA/J mice. Endocrinology 2007; 148:5734-45. [PMID: 17823262 DOI: 10.1210/en.2007-0939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Granulomatous experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (G-EAT) is induced by transfer of thyroglobulin-primed in vitro activated splenocytes. Thyroid lesions reach maximal severity 20 d later, and inflammation resolves or progresses to fibrosis by d 60, depending on the extent of thyroid damage at d 20. Depletion of CD8+ T cells inhibits G-EAT resolution. We showed that expression of Fas-associated death domain-like IL-1beta-converting enzyme inhibitory protein (FLIP) transgene (Tg) on thyroid epithelial cells (TECs) of DBA/1 mice had no effect on G-EAT induction but promoted earlier resolution of G-EAT. However, when CBA/J wild-type donor cells were transferred to transgenic CBA/J mice expressing FLIP on TECs, they developed less severe G-EAT than FLIP Tg- littermates. Both strains expressed similar levels of the FLIP Tg, but endogenous FLIP was up-regulated to a greater extent on infiltrating T cells during G-EAT development in DBA/1 compared with CBA/J mice. After transient depletion of CD8+ T cells, FLIP Tg+ and Tg- CBA/J recipients both developed severe G-EAT at d 20. Thyroid lesions in CD8-depleted Tg+ recipients were resolving by d 60, whereas lesions in Tg- littermates did not resolve, and most were fibrotic. FLIP Tg+ recipients had increased apoptosis of CD3+ T cells compared with Tg- recipients. The results indicate that transgenic FLIP expressed on TECs in CBA/J mice promotes G-EAT resolution, but induction of G-EAT is inhibited unless CD8+ T cells are transiently depleted.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apoptosis/immunology
- Blotting, Western
- CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein/genetics
- CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein/immunology
- CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein/metabolism
- CD3 Complex/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Cytokines/immunology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Epithelial Cells/immunology
- Epithelial Cells/metabolism
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/immunology
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred CBA
- Mice, Transgenic
- Microscopy, Confocal
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Spleen/cytology
- T-Lymphocytes/cytology
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Thyroid Gland/cytology
- Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/genetics
- Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/immunology
- Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/metabolism
- Thyroiditis, Subacute/genetics
- Thyroiditis, Subacute/immunology
- Thyroiditis, Subacute/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujiang Fang
- Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, NE307 Medical Sciences, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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16
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Abstract
Among known autoantigens, thyroglobulin (Tg) is unique in its capacity to store iodine, an element provided in our daily diet. Evolutionary pressure has sculpted Tg into a large molecular scaffolding to allow organification of iodide and its incorporation into thyroid hormones. The increase in molecular size and the posttranslational modification by iodine had to exact immunological consequences. Over the last 15 years, numerous Tg peptides-targets of thyroiditogenic T cells-have been mapped, raising questions regarding the mechanisms that maintain or abrogate immune tolerance against this large autoantigen. This review summarizes the work in this area and discusses the role iodine may play in these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Carayanniotis
- Divisions of Endocrinology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
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17
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Abstract
Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a prototypic proinflammatory cytokine produced by several different cell types, including the Th1 subset of CD4(+) T cells, plays an important role in inflammation and autoimmune diseases. This review focuses on the varied and often contrasting roles of IFN-gamma in three murine models of autoimmune thyroid disease, experimentally induced autoimmune thyroiditis, the model of iodine-induced spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis in NOD.H-2h4 mice and several different murine models of Graves' disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujiang Fang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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18
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Abstract
Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), including Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), are prevalent autoimmune diseases, affecting up to 5% of the general population. AITDs arise due to interplay between environmental and genetic factors. In the past decade, significant progress has been made in our understanding of the genetic contribution to the etiology of AITDs. Excitingly, several AITD susceptibility genes have been identified and characterized. Some of these susceptibility genes are specific to either GD or HT, while others confer susceptibility to both conditions. The first AITD susceptibility gene locus identified was the Human-Leukocyte-Antigen DR (HLA-DR) gene locus. Subsequently, a quintet of non-HLA genes, including the cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA-4), CD40, protein tyrosine phosphatase-22 (PTPN22), thyroglobulin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) gene, has been shown to contribute to the susceptibility to AITDs. Recently, the mechanisms by which these new AITD genes predispose to AITDs have been dissected. In this review, we overview and highlight the recent data on the genes predisposing to AITDs and the putative mechanisms by which they confer susceptibility to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M Jacobson
- Division of Endocrinology, Cincinnati VA Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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19
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Jacobson EM, Tomer Y. The CD40, CTLA-4, thyroglobulin, TSH receptor, and PTPN22 gene quintet and its contribution to thyroid autoimmunity: back to the future. J Autoimmun 2007; 28:85-98. [PMID: 17369021 PMCID: PMC2043086 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2007.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) are common autoimmune diseases, affecting up to 5% of the general population. Thyroid-directed autoimmunity is manifested in two classical autoimmune conditions, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, resulting in hypothyroidism and Graves' disease resulting in hyperthyroidism. Autoimmune thyroid diseases arise due to an interplay between environmental and genetic factors. In the past decade significant progress has been made in our understanding of the genetic contribution to the etiology of AITD. Indeed, several AITD susceptibility genes have been identified. Some of these susceptibility genes are specific to either Graves' disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis, while others confer susceptibility to both conditions. Both immunoregulatory genes and thyroid specific genes contribute to the pathogenesis of AITD. The time is now ripe to examine the mechanistic basis for the contribution of genetic factors to the etiology of AITD. In this review, we will focus on the contribution of non-MHC II genes.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, CD/genetics
- Antigens, CD/immunology
- Antigens, CD/metabolism
- Antigens, Differentiation/genetics
- Antigens, Differentiation/immunology
- Antigens, Differentiation/metabolism
- CD40 Antigens/genetics
- CD40 Antigens/metabolism
- CTLA-4 Antigen
- Genetic Predisposition to Disease
- Graves Disease/etiology
- Graves Disease/genetics
- Graves Disease/immunology
- Hashimoto Disease/etiology
- Hashimoto Disease/genetics
- Hashimoto Disease/immunology
- Humans
- Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
- Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 22
- Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases/genetics
- Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases/metabolism
- Receptors, Thyrotropin/genetics
- Receptors, Thyrotropin/metabolism
- Thyroglobulin/genetics
- Thyroglobulin/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M Jacobson
- Division of Endocrinology, University of Cincinnati, The Vontz Center for Molecular Studies, 3125 Eden Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
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20
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Chen K, Wei Y, Sharp GC, Braley-Mullen H. Decreasing TNF-alpha results in less fibrosis and earlier resolution of granulomatous experimental autoimmune thyroiditis. J Leukoc Biol 2006; 81:306-14. [PMID: 17046971 PMCID: PMC1748426 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.0606402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Granulomatous experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (G-EAT) is induced in DBA/1 mice by adoptive transfer of mouse thyroglobulin (MTg)-primed spleen cells. TNF-alpha is an important proinflammatory cytokine and apoptotic molecule involved in many autoimmune diseases. To study its role in G-EAT, anti-TNF-alpha mAb was given to recipient mice. Disease severity was comparable between mice with or without anti-TNF-alpha treatment at days 19-21, the time of maximal severity of G-EAT, suggesting TNF-alpha is not essential for development of thyroid inflammation. However, thyroid lesions resolved at day 48 in anti-TNF-alpha-treated mice, while thyroids of rat Ig-treated controls had fibrosis. These results suggested that reducing TNF-alpha contributed to resolution of inflammation and inhibited fibrosis. Gene and protein expression of inflammatory molecules was examined by RT-PCR and immunostaining, and apoptosis was detected using TUNEL staining and an apoptosis kit. Thyroids of anti-TNF-alpha-treated controls had reduced proinflammatory and profibrotic molecules, e.g., IFN-gamma, IL-1beta, IL-17, inducible NOS and MCP-1, at day 19 compared with thyroids of rat Ig-treated mice. There were more apoptotic thyrocytes in rat Ig-treated controls than in anti-TNF-alpha-treated mice. The site of expression of the anti-apoptotic molecule FLIP also differed between rat Ig-treated and anti-TNF-alpha-treated mice. FLIP was predominantly expressed by inflammatory cells of rat Ig-treated mice and by thyrocytes of anti-TNF-alpha-treated mice. These results suggest that anti-TNF-alpha may regulate expression of proinflammatory cytokines and apoptosis in thyroids, resulting in less inflammation, earlier resolution, and reduced fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Helen Braley-Mullen
- Departments of Internal Medicine
- Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, and
- VA Research Service, Columbia, MO 65212
- Corresponding Author: Helen Braley-Mullen, or Kemin Chen, Division of Immunology & Rheumatology, Dept. of Medicine, University of Missouri, M306 Medical Sciences, One Hospital Dr., Columbia, MO 65212. Tel: 573-882-4325, Fax: 573-882-1380. , or
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21
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Abedi-Valugerdi M, Nilsson C, Zargari A, Gharibdoost F, DePierre JW, Hassan M. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide both renders resistant mice susceptible to mercury-induced autoimmunity and exacerbates such autoimmunity in susceptible mice. Clin Exp Immunol 2005; 141:238-47. [PMID: 15996188 PMCID: PMC1809427 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2005.02849.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The initiation and severity of systemic autoimmune diseases are influenced by a variety of genetic and environmental factors, in particular bacterial infections and products. Here, we have employed bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which non-specifically activates the immune system, to explore the involvement of innate immunity in mercury-induced autoimmunity in mice. Following treatment of mouse strains resistant [DBA/2 (H-2(d))] or susceptible [SJL(H-2(s))] to such autoimmunity with mercuric chloride and/or LPS or with physiological saline alone (control), their immune/autoimmune responses were monitored. Resistant DBA/2 mice were rendered susceptible to mercury-induced autoimmunity by co-administration of LPS, exhibiting pronounced increases in the synthesis of IgG1 and IgE, high titres of IgG1 deposits in the kidneys and elevated circulating levels of IgG1 antibodies of different specificities. Furthermore, the percentages of the T cells isolated from the spleens of DBA/2 mice exposed to both mercury and LPS that produced pro-inflammatory cytokines were markedly increased by in vitro stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and ionomycin, which was not the case for splenic T cells isolated from mice receiving mercuric chloride, LPS or saline alone. In addition, exposure of susceptible SJL mice to mercury in combination with LPS aggravated the characteristic features of mercury-induced autoimmunity, including increased synthesis of IgG1 and IgE, the production of IgG1 anti-nucleolar antibodies (ANolA) and the formation of renal deposits of IgG1. In summary, our findings indicate that activation of the innate immune system plays a key role in both the induction and severity of chemically induced autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Abedi-Valugerdi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratories for the Natural Sciences, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
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22
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Verginis P, Li HS, Carayanniotis G. Tolerogenic semimature dendritic cells suppress experimental autoimmune thyroiditis by activation of thyroglobulin-specific CD4+CD25+ T cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2005; 174:7433-9. [PMID: 15905592 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.174.11.7433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Ex vivo treatment of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) with TNF-alpha has been previously shown to induce partial maturation of DCs that are able to suppress autoimmunity. In this study, we demonstrate that i.v. administration of TNF-alpha-treated, semimature DCs pulsed with thyrogloblin (Tg), but not with OVA Ag, inhibits the subsequent development of Tg-induced experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) in CBA/J mice. This protocol activates CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in vivo, which secrete IL-10 upon specific recognition of Tg in vitro and express regulatory T cell (Treg)-associated markers such as glucocorticoid-induced TNFR, CTLA-4, and Foxp3. These CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells suppressed the proliferation and cytokine release of Tg-specific, CD4(+)CD25(-) effector cells in vitro, in an IL-10-independent, cell contact-dependent manner. Prior adoptive transfer of the same CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells into CBA/J hosts suppressed Tg-induced EAT. These results demonstrate that the tolerogenic potential of Tg-pulsed, semimature DCs in EAT is likely to be mediated through the selective activation of Tg-specific CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells and provide new insights for the study of Ag-specific immunoregulation of autoimmune diseases.
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MESH Headings
- Adoptive Transfer/methods
- Animals
- Bone Marrow Cells/cytology
- Cell Communication/immunology
- Cell Differentiation/immunology
- Cells, Cultured
- Cytokines/antagonists & inhibitors
- Cytokines/biosynthesis
- Dendritic Cells/cytology
- Dendritic Cells/immunology
- Dendritic Cells/transplantation
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/pharmacology
- Female
- Immune Tolerance
- Immunophenotyping
- Interleukin-10/metabolism
- Lymphocyte Activation/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred CBA
- Mice, Inbred ICR
- Receptors, Interleukin-2/biosynthesis
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/cytology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism
- Thyroglobulin/immunology
- Thyroglobulin/pharmacology
- Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/immunology
- Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/prevention & control
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Affiliation(s)
- Panayotis Verginis
- Divisions of Endocrinology and Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada
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23
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Mezosi E, Wang SH, Utsugi S, Bajnok L, Bretz JD, Gauger PG, Thompson NW, Baker JR. Induction and Regulation of Fas-Mediated Apoptosis in Human Thyroid Epithelial Cells. Mol Endocrinol 2005; 19:804-11. [PMID: 15563545 DOI: 10.1210/me.2004-0286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Fas-mediated apoptosis has been proposed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Normal thyroid cells are resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis in vitro but can be sensitized by the unique combination of interferon-γ and IL-1β cytokines. We sought to examine the mechanism of this sensitization and apoptosis signaling in primary human thyroid cells. Without the addition of cytokines, agonist anti-Fas antibody treatment of the thyroid cells resulted in the cleavage of proximal caspases, but this did not lead to the activation of caspase 7 and caspase 3. Apoptosis associated with the cleavage of caspases 7, 3, and Bid, and the activation of mitochondria in response to anti-Fas antibody occurred only after cytokine pretreatment. Cell surface expression of Fas, the cytoplasmic concentrations of procaspases 7, 8, and 10, and the proapoptotic molecule Bid were markedly enhanced by the presence of the cytokines. In contrast, P44/p42 MAPK (Erk) appeared to provide protection from Fas-mediated apoptosis because an MAPK kinase inhibitor (U0126) sensitized thyroid cells to anti-Fas antibody. In conclusion, Fas signaling is blocked in normal thyroid cells at a point after the activation of proximal caspases. Interferon-γ/IL-1β pretreatment sensitizes human thyroid cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis in a complex manner that overcomes this blockade through increased expression of cell surface Fas receptor, increases in proapoptotic molecules that result in mitochondrial activation, and late caspase cleavage. This process involves Bcl-2 family proteins and appears to be compatible with type II apoptosis regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emese Mezosi
- Department of Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, 9220 Medical Sciences Research Building III, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0648, USA
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24
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Ban Y, Greenberg DA, Concepcion E, Skrabanek L, Villanueva R, Tomer Y. Amino acid substitutions in the thyroglobulin gene are associated with susceptibility to human and murine autoimmune thyroid disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2003; 100:15119-24. [PMID: 14657345 PMCID: PMC299918 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2434175100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The 8q24 locus, which contains the thyroglobulin (Tg) gene, was previously shown to be strongly linked with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). We sequenced all 48 exons of the Tg gene and identified 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Case control association studies demonstrated that an exon 10-12 SNP cluster and an exon 33 SNP were significantly associated with AITD (P < 0.01). Haplotype analysis demonstrated that the combination of these two SNP groups was more significantly associated with AITD (P < 0.001). Gene-gene interaction studies provided evidence for an interaction between HLA-DR3 and the exon 33 SNP, giving an odds ratio of 6.1 for Graves' disease. We then sequenced exons 10,12, and 33 of the mouse Tg gene in 19 strains of mice. Fifty percent of the strains susceptible to thyroiditis had a unique SNP haplotype at exons 10 and 12, whereas none of the mouse strains that were resistant to thyroiditis had this SNP haplotype (P = 0.01). We concluded that Tg is a susceptibility gene for AITD, both in humans in and in mice. A combination of at least two Tg SNPs conferred susceptibility to human AITD. Moreover, the exon 33 SNP showed evidence for interaction with HLA-DR3 in conferring susceptibility to Graves' disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiyuki Ban
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Bone Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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25
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Wei Y, Chen K, Sharp GC, Braley-Mullen H. FLIP and FasL expression by inflammatory cells vs thyrocytes can be predictive of chronic inflammation or resolution of autoimmune thyroiditis. Clin Immunol 2003; 108:221-33. [PMID: 14499245 DOI: 10.1016/s1521-6616(03)00146-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis (SAT) in NOD.H-2h4 mice is a model of chronic inflammation of the thyroid, while granulomatous experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (G-EAT) is a model with spontaneous resolution of inflammation. In chronic inflammation (SAT), Fas, FasL, and FLIP were upregulated and predominant in inflammatory cells. There were few apoptotic cells, and low expression of active caspase-8 and -3. In resolving G-EAT in CBA/J and NOD.H-2h4 mice, FasL and FLIP were predominantly expressed by thyrocytes. There were many apoptotic inflammatory cells, and increased expression of active caspase-8 and -3. Depletion of CD8+ T cells inhibited G-EAT resolution and resulted in chronic inflammation. FLIP was expressed predominantly by inflammatory cells, and apoptosis of inflammatory cells and expression of active caspase-3 was reduced as in chronic SAT. Thus, differences in expression of pro- or antiapoptotic molecules in SAT or G-EAT were apparently related to the acute vs chronic nature of the inflammatory response rather than the method of disease induction. Upregulation of FLIP by inflammatory cells may block Fas-mediated apoptosis, contributing to chronic inflammation, whereas increased FLIP expression by thyrocytes in resolving G-EAT may protect thyrocytes from apoptosis, and FasL expression by thyrocytes may induce apoptosis of inflammatory cells, contributing to resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhong Wei
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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26
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Goulvestre C, Batteux F, Charreire J. Chemokines modulate experimental autoimmune thyroiditis through attraction of autoreactive or regulatory T cells. Eur J Immunol 2002; 32:3435-42. [PMID: 12432574 DOI: 10.1002/1521-4141(200212)32:12<3435::aid-immu3435>3.0.co;2-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
A critical event in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) is the entry of thyroid-specific T lymphocytes into the thyroid gland. To investigate the role of soluble mediators in that infiltration, we have assayed the expression of various chemokines in diseased thyroid glands and in cytokine-treated cultures of normal thyroid epithelial cells. MCP-1 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1) and RANTES are produced during EAT and induced in vitro by IFN-gamma, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta. In vitro chemotaxis experiments using immune lymph node (LN) cells showed that RANTES attracted mTg-specific responder LN cells, whereas MCP-1 attracted mTg-specific CD4(+), CD25(+) regulator cells that secreted IL-10. The in vivo transfer of LN T cells attracted in vitro either by RANTES or by MCP-1 confirmed their opposite effects on the course of EAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Goulvestre
- Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Hôpital et Faculté de Médecine Cochin, AP-HP, Université Paris V, Paris, France
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27
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Verginis P, Stanford MM, Carayanniotis G. Delineation of five thyroglobulin T cell epitopes with pathogenic potential in experimental autoimmune thyroiditis. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2002; 169:5332-7. [PMID: 12391254 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.169.9.5332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) is a T cell-mediated disease that can be induced in mice after challenge with thyroglobulin (Tg) or Tg peptides. To date, five pathogenic Tg peptides have been identified, four of which are clustered toward the C-terminal end. Because susceptibility to EAT is under control of H-2A(k) genes, we have used an algorithm-based approach to identify A(k)-binding peptides with pathogenic potential within mouse Tg. Eight candidate synthetic peptides, varying in size from 9 to 15 aa, were tested and five of those (p306, p1579, p1826, p2102, and p2596) were found to induce EAT in CBA/J (H-2(k)) mice either after direct challenge with peptide in adjuvant or by adoptive transfer of peptide-sensitized lymph node cells (LNCs) into naive hosts. These pathogenic peptides were immunogenic at the T cell level, eliciting specific LNC proliferative responses and IL-2 and/or IFN-gamma secretion in recall assays in vitro, but contained nondominant epitopes. All immunogenic peptides were confirmed as A(k) binders because peptide-specific LNC proliferation was blocked by an A(k)-specific mAb, but not by a control mAb. Peptide-specific serum IgG was induced only by p2102 and p2596, but these Abs did not bind to intact mouse Tg. This study reaffirms the predictive value of A(k)-binding motifs in epitope mapping and doubles the number of known pathogenic T cell determinants in Tg that are now found scattered throughout the length of this large autoantigen. This knowledge may contribute toward our understanding of the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroiditis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panayotis Verginis
- Division of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada
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28
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Wang SH, Bretz JD, Phelps E, Mezosi E, Arscott PL, Utsugi S, Baker JR. A unique combination of inflammatory cytokines enhances apoptosis of thyroid follicular cells and transforms nondestructive to destructive thyroiditis in experimental autoimmune thyroiditis. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2002; 168:2470-4. [PMID: 11859140 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.168.5.2470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of cultured primary human thyroid cells with IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha uniquely allows the induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis. To investigate the role of this cytokine combination in vivo, CBA/J mice were immunized with thyroglobulin and then injected with IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. Compared with control animals, mice treated with IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha showed significantly sustained lymphocytic infiltration in the thyroid, which was associated with the destruction of portions of the follicular architecture at wk 6 after initial immunization. Furthermore, the number of apoptotic thyroid follicular cells was increased only in the thyroids from mice treated with the IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. We also analyzed the function of the Fas pathway in vivo in cytokine-treated mice by using an agonist anti-Fas Ab injected directly into the thyroid. Minimal apoptosis of thyroid epithelial cells was observed unless the mice were pretreated with IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. These data demonstrate that this unique combination of inflammatory cytokines facilitates the apoptotic destruction of thyroid follicular cells in experimental autoimmune thyroiditis, in a manner similar to what is observed in Hashimoto's thyroiditis in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su He Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Medical Science Research Building III, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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29
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Braley-Mullen H, Chen K, Wei Y, Yu S. Role of TGFbeta in development of spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis in NOD.H-2h4 mice. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2001; 167:7111-8. [PMID: 11739533 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.167.12.7111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Nearly 100% of NOD.H-2h4 mice develop spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis (SAT) and produce anti-mouse thyroglobulin autoantibodies when they receive 0.05% NaI in their drinking water beginning at 8 wk of age. Our previous studies showed that TGFbeta1 mRNA was constitutively expressed in thyroids and spleens of normal NOD.H-2h4 mice but not other strains of mice. To determine whether TGFbeta might have a role in SAT, mice were given anti-TGFbeta mAb at various times during development of SAT. Anti-TGFbeta markedly inhibited development of SAT and production of anti-mouse thyroglobulin IgG1 autoantibodies. Anti-TGFbeta was most effective in inhibiting SAT when given during the time thyroid lesions were developing, i.e., starting 4 wk after administration of NaI water. The active form of the TGFbeta1 protein was present in thyroids of mice with SAT but not in normal NOD.H-2h4 thyroids. However, thyrocytes of normal NOD.H-2h4 thyroids did express latent TGFbeta1. TGFbeta1 protein expression in the thyroid correlated with SAT severity scores, and administration of anti-TGFbeta inhibited TGFbeta1 protein expression in both the thyroid and spleen. TGFbeta1 was produced primarily by inflammatory cells and was primarily localized in areas of the thyroid containing clusters of CD4(+) T and B cells. Depletion of CD8(+) T cells had no effect on TGFbeta1 protein expression. Activation of splenic T cells was apparently not inhibited by anti-TGFbeta, because up-regulation of mRNA for cytokines and other T cell activation markers was similar for control and anti-TGFbeta-treated mice. TGFbeta1 may function by promoting migration to, or retention of, inflammatory cells in the thyroid.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Braley-Mullen
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
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Fondal W, Sampson C, Sharp GC, Braley-Mullen H. Transforming growth factor-beta has contrasting effects in the presence or absence of exogenous interleukin-12 on the in vitro activation of cells that transfer experimental autoimmune thyroiditis. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2001; 21:971-80. [PMID: 11747629 DOI: 10.1089/107999001753289587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse thyroglobulin (MuTg)-sensitized spleen cells activated in vitro with MuTg induce experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) in recipient mice with a thyroid infiltrate consisting primarily of lymphocytes. A more severe and histologically distinct granulomatous form of EAT (G-EAT) is induced when donor cells are activated with MuTg together with anti-interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), anti-interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) monoclonal antibody (mAb), and IL-12. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a multifunctional cytokine that can both suppress and exacerbate autoimmune diseases and often has inhibitory effects on lymphocytes. To determine if TGF-beta could modulate the in vitro activation of effector cells for G-EAT, TGF-beta was added to cultures of MuTg-sensitized donor spleen cells together with MuTg. Cells activated in the presence of 2 ng/ml TGF-beta induced moderately severe G-EAT in recipient mice. G-EAT induced by cells activated in the presence of TGF-beta was histologically similar but less severe than the G-EAT induced by cells activated in the presence of IL-12. IL-12 and TGF-beta modulate the activation of G-EAT effector cells by distinct mechanisms, as cells activated by TGF-beta could induce G-EAT in the presence of anti-IL-12, and TGF-beta inhibited the effects of IL-12 on EAT effector cells. TGF-beta exerted its activity during the first 24 h of the 72-h culture, whereas IL-12 functioned primarily during the final 24 h of culture. These results indicate that thyroid lesions with granulomatous histopathology can be induced by both IL-12-dependent and IL-12-independent mechanisms, and TGF-beta can exert both positive and negative effects on the effector cells for G-EAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Fondal
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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Muller AF, Drexhage HA, Berghout A. Postpartum thyroiditis and autoimmune thyroiditis in women of childbearing age: recent insights and consequences for antenatal and postnatal care. Endocr Rev 2001; 22:605-30. [PMID: 11588143 DOI: 10.1210/edrv.22.5.0441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Postpartum thyroiditis is a syndrome of transient or permanent thyroid dysfunction occurring in the first year after delivery and based on an autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid. The prevalence ranges from 5-7%. We discuss the role of antibodies (especially thyroid peroxidase antibodies), complement, activated T cells, and apoptosis in the outbreak of postpartum thyroiditis. Postpartum thyroiditis is conceptualized as an acute phase of autoimmune thyroid destruction in the context of an existing and ongoing process of thyroid autosensitization. From pregnancy an enhanced state of immune tolerance ensues. A rebound reaction to this pregnancy-associated immune suppression after delivery explains the aggravation of autoimmune syndromes in the puerperal period, e.g., the occurrence of clinically overt postpartum thyroiditis. Low thyroid reserve due to autoimmune thyroiditis is increasingly recognized as a serious health problem. 1) Thyroid autoimmunity increases the probability of spontaneous fetal loss. 2) Thyroid failure due to autoimmune thyroiditis-often mild and subclinical-can lead to permanent and significant impairment in neuropsychological performance of the offspring. 3) Evidence is emerging that as women age subclinical hypothyroidism-as a sequel of postpartum thyroiditis-predisposes them to cardiovascular disease. Hence, postpartum thyroiditis is no longer considered a mild and transient disorder. Screening is considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- A F Muller
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Chen K, Wei Y, Sharp GC, Braley-Mullen H. Induction of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis in IL-12-/- mice. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2001; 167:1720-7. [PMID: 11466396 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.167.3.1720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Granulomatous experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (G-EAT) is induced by transfer of mouse thyroglobulin (MTg)-sensitized spleen cells activated in vitro with MTg and anti-IL-2R or MTg and IL-12. Previous work suggested that IL-12 was required in vitro for development of G-EAT. To determine whether IL-12 was also required during the induction and/or effector phases, DBA/1 mice with a disrupted IL-12-P40 gene (IL-12(-/-)) were used for EAT induction. Cells from MTg-sensitized IL12(-/-) donors activated in vitro by MTg or MTg and anti-IL2R induced severe EAT in recipient mice. Compared with effector cells from IL-12(+/+) donors, effector cells from IL-12(-/-) donors induced thyroid lesions dominated by lymphocytes with minimal granulomatous changes. Thyroids of recipients of IL-12(-/-) cells expressed less IFN-gamma mRNA and more TGF-beta, IL-4, and IL-10 compared with recipients of IL-12(+/+) cells. When IL-12 was added during in vitro activation, cells from both IL-12(-/-) and IL-12(+/+) donors induced severe G-EAT, and expression of all cytokines except IL-12 was comparable in thyroids of both IL-12(+/+) and IL-12(-/-) recipients. Transfer of cells from IL-12(+/+) or IL-12(-/-) donors into IL-12(+/+) or IL-12(-/-) recipients indicated that IL-12 expressed in thyroids was derived from recipients. Thus, endogenous IL-12 is not absolutely essential for the sensitization and activation of EAT effector cells to induce severe EAT, although it is required in vitro to promote activation of cells to induce severe granulomatous histopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212
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Braley-Mullen H, Sharp GC. Adoptive transfer murine model of granulomatous experimental autoimmune thyroiditis. Int Rev Immunol 2001; 19:535-55. [PMID: 11129114 DOI: 10.3109/08830180009088511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that can be induced in genetically susceptible animals by immunization with mouse thyroglobulin (MTg) in an appropriate adjuvant or by the adoptive transfer of MTg-sensitized donor spleen cells, activated in vitro with MTg, into naive recipients. In the adoptive transfer model used in our laboratory, donor cells activated with MTg alone induce a relatively mild chronic lymphocytic form of EAT (L-EAT), in which the thyroid infiltrate consists primarily of mononuclear cells, and the thyroid inflammation persists for several months. When the same donor cells are activated with MTg together with anti-IL-2R and/or IL-12, a more severe and histologically distinct granulomatous form of EAT is induced in recipient mice. In addition to having distinct histopathologic features, granulomatous EAT (G-EAT) differs from L-EAT in that granulomatous thyroid lesions are not chronic. After reaching maximal severity 21 days after cell transfer, G-EAT thyroid lesions either resolve or the thyroids become atrophic and fibrotic by day 35. In this review, the histopathologic features of G-EAT and L-EAT are described, and our studies with the adoptive transfer G-EAT model which have focused on the mechanisms involved in induction of G-EAT in mice, and the evolution of G-EAT lesions to resolution of inflammation or fibrosis, are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Braley-Mullen
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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Braley-Mullen H, Yu S. Early requirement for B cells for development of spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis in NOD.H-2h4 mice. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2000; 165:7262-9. [PMID: 11120860 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.165.12.7262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
B cells are known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. NOD.H-2h4 mice develop spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis (SAT) and anti-mouse thyroglobulin (MTg) autoantibodies, the levels of which correlate closely with the severity of thyroid lesions. NOD.H-2h4 mice genetically deficient in B cells (NOD.Kmu(null)) or rendered B cell-deficient by treatment from birth with anti-IgM develop minimal SAT. B cells were required some time in the first 4-6 wk after birth, because NOD.Kmu(null) or NOD.H-2h4 mice did not develop SAT when they were reconstituted with B cells as adults. The requirement for B cells was apparently not solely to produce anti-MTg autoantibodies, because passive transfer of anti-MTg Ab did not enable B cell-deficient mice to develop SAT, and mice given B cells as adults produced autoantibodies but did not develop SAT. B cell-deficient mice developed SAT if their T cells developed from bone marrow precursors in the presence of B cells. Because B cells are required early in life and their function cannot be replaced by anti-MTg autoantibodies, B cells may be required for the activation or selection of autoreactive T cells. These autoreactive T cells are apparently unable to respond to Ag if B cells are absent in the first 4-6 wk after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Braley-Mullen
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
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Batteux F, Lores P, Bucchini D, Chiocchia G. Transgenic expression of Fas ligand on thyroid follicular cells prevents autoimmune thyroiditis. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2000; 164:1681-8. [PMID: 10657610 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.164.4.1681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
"Immune privilege" is defined as tissue resistance to aggression by specifically activated lymphocytes, and involves the interaction between Fas expressed on infiltrating cells and Fas ligand (FasL) constitutively expressed on the target tissue. To test whether ectopic expression of FasL on thyrocytes could prevent autoimmune aggression of the thyroid by activated lymphoid cells, three lines of transgenic mice expressing low, intermediate, and high levels of functional FasL on thyroid follicular cells were generated. Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis was induced by immunization with mouse thyroglobulin. In all of the experiments, the effects were dependent on the level of FasL expression. Low and intermediate expression had no or only weak preventive effects, respectively, whereas high FasL expression strongly inhibited lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid. Anti-mouse thyroglobulin-proliferative and cytotoxic T cell responses, as well as autoantibody production, were diminished in transgenic mice expressing high levels of FasL relative to controls. Furthermore, in these latter mice Th1 responses to mouse thyroglobulin were profoundly down-regulated, uncovering a new potential role for FasL in peripheral tolerance to organ-specific Ags. In sum, the prevention of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis by FasL on thyrocytes is dependent on the level of FasL expression.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- B-Lymphocytes/immunology
- B-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Crosses, Genetic
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/genetics
- Fas Ligand Protein
- Female
- Immunoglobulin G/biosynthesis
- Immunoglobulin G/blood
- Injections, Intradermal
- Interferon-gamma/antagonists & inhibitors
- Interferon-gamma/biosynthesis
- Ligands
- Lymph Nodes/immunology
- Lymph Nodes/metabolism
- Membrane Glycoproteins/biosynthesis
- Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics
- Membrane Glycoproteins/physiology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Inbred CBA
- Mice, Transgenic
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Thyroglobulin/administration & dosage
- Thyroglobulin/genetics
- Thyroglobulin/immunology
- Thyroid Gland/cytology
- Thyroid Gland/immunology
- Thyroid Gland/metabolism
- Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/genetics
- Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/immunology
- Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/pathology
- Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/prevention & control
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- fas Receptor/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- F Batteux
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U477, Université René Descartes, Paris, France
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Zaccone P, Hutchings P, Nicoletti F, Penna G, Adorini L, Cooke A. The involvement of IL-12 in murine experimentally induced autoimmune thyroid disease. Eur J Immunol 1999; 29:1933-42. [PMID: 10382756 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1521-4141(199906)29:06<1933::aid-immu1933>3.0.co;2-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Experimental autoimmune thyroid disease (EAT) can be induced experimentally in mice following immunization with mouse thyroglobulin (mTg) and the adjuvants lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). EAT can also be transferred to naive recipients by CD4+ T cells from mTg-primed mice. Here we demonstrate a role for IL-12 in the development of EAT by the ability of neutralizing antibody to IL-12 to reduce disease severity and by the lack of significant levels of thyroid infiltration in IL-12p40-deficient mice following immunization with mTg and CFA. A single injection of 300 ng IL-12 at the time of initial immunization with mTg and LPS was able to increase the degree of thyroid infiltration. These data are all consistent with EAT being a Th1-mediated disease. Conversely, however, administration of IL-12 over a prolonged period markedly inhibited the induction of EAT by mTg and CFA and, if given to recipients, inhibited the transfer of EAT by mTg-primed lymph node cells. The development of an autoantibody response to mTg was also inhibited when IL-12 was administered throughout the experimental period, suggesting that sustained exposure to IL-12 can be immunosuppressive.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Zaccone
- Istituto di Microbiologia, Universita di Catania, Italy
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37
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Braley-Mullen H, Sharp GC, Medling B, Tang H. Spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis in NOD.H-2h4 mice. J Autoimmun 1999; 12:157-65. [PMID: 10222025 DOI: 10.1006/jaut.1999.0272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
NOD.H-2h4 mice, which express I-Ak on the NOD genetic background, spontaneously develop autoimmune thyroiditis (SAT) and anti-mouse thyroglobulin (MTg) autoantibodies. The incidence of SAT is nearly 100% in mice of both sexes 6-8 weeks after administration of 0.05% NaI in the drinking water. After reaching maximum severity, inflammation is chronic over the next 3-4 months. All mice that develop thyroid lesions also produce MTg-specific IgG1 and IgG2b autoantibodies. Thyroid lesions and anti-MTg autoantibodies did not develop in CBA/J (H-2(k)) or NOD.SWR(H-2(q)) mice after administration of NaI water. Both CD4(+)and CD8(+)T cells are involved in the initial development of SAT. Depletion of CD4(+), but not CD8(+), T cells after thyroid lesions have developed also markedly reduced SAT severity, indicating that CD4(+)T cells are required for both developing and maintaining SAT. Analysis of cytokine gene expression indicated that both Th1 and Th2 cytokines were expressed in thyroids of NOD.H-2h4 mice with SAT. Th1 and proinflammatory cytokines were maximally expressed 4-6 weeks after mice began receiving NaI water, while Th2 cytokine gene expression was greatest at 8-15 weeks, when lesions had reached maximal severity and were in the chronic phase. TGF-beta was highly expressed in NOD.H-2h4 thyroids, irrespective of whether the mice had received NaI water or had thyroid lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Braley-Mullen
- Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA. helen_mullen@muccmail
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38
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Brazillet MP, Batteux F, Abehsira-Amar O, Nicoletti F, Charreire J. Induction of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis by heat-denatured porcine thyroglobulin: a Tc1-mediated disease. Eur J Immunol 1999; 29:1342-52. [PMID: 10229102 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1521-4141(199904)29:04<1342::aid-immu1342>3.0.co;2-a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that denatured exogenous antigens can prime cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). To assess the contribution of CTL to experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), porcine thyroglobulin (pTg) was heat-denatured (hdpTg) and injected i.v. into CBA/J mice, without the aid of adjuvants. Both lymphocytic infiltrations of the thyroid glands and levels of Tg-specific CTL were similar to those found in conventional EAT induced by Tg and adjuvants. In contrast, proliferative responses could not be detected, and titers of antibodies to pTg were 20 times lower. These EAT-inducer CTL belong to the CD8+ cell subset and exerted their thyroiditogenic potential through release of IFN-gamma. We conclude that hdpTg-induced EAT is mediated by type 1 cytotoxic T cells (Tc1).
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Affiliation(s)
- M P Brazillet
- INSERM U 477, Université René Descartes, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
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Batteux F, Trebeden H, Charreire J, Chiocchia G. Curative treatment of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis by in vivo administration of plasmid DNA coding for interleukin-10. Eur J Immunol 1999; 29:958-63. [PMID: 10092100 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1521-4141(199903)29:03<958::aid-immu958>3.0.co;2-d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The autoimmune response in experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) is characterized by a lymphocyte infiltration of the thyroid gland and by the appearance of circulating autoantibodies to thyroglobulin (Tg). Cytokines play a crucial role in the immunoregulation and pathology of EAT. Systemic administration of IL-10 has curative effects on EAT, but requires high doses and iterative injections due to the rapid turnover of this molecule. We have designed an original in vivo gene transfer using a mixture of liposomes and poly-L-Lysine that greatly enhanced the transfection yield, and induced a fast and long-lasting expression of IL-10 on mouse thyroid follicular cells (TFC). IL-10 expression on TFC of mice wit EAT dramatically wipe out the lymphocytic infiltration in the thyroids. A significant diminution in the proliferative anti-Tg T cell response was observed, along with a trend towards a Th2 response characterized by decreased production of IFN-gamma and by increased anti-Tg IgG1/IgG2a Ab ratios. In conclusion, local IL-10 gene therapy using non-viral vectors is a novel and promising approach for the treatment of thyroid autoimmune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Batteux
- Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Faculté de Médicine Cochin-Port Royal, Paris, France
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Batteux F, Tourneur L, Trebeden H, Charreire J, Chiocchia G. Gene Therapy of Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis by In Vivo Administration of Plasmid DNA Coding for Fas Ligand. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 1999. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.162.1.603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Fas-Fas ligand (FasL) interaction is required for the maintenance of immune homeostasis and seems to be responsible for the privileged immune status of some tissues. Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), which is characterized by autoreactive T and B cell responses and a marked lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid, is a model of choice to study the therapeutic effects of FasL. Here, we provide evidence that direct injection of DNA expression vectors encoding FasL into the inflamed thyroid inhibited development of lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid and induced death of infiltrating T cells. These results were paralleled by a total abrogation of anti-Tg cytotoxic T cell response in FasL-treated animals vs controls. In summary, our results show that FasL expression on thyrocytes may have a curative effect on ongoing EAT by inducing death of pathogenic autoreactive infiltrating T lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Batteux
- *Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 477, Université René Descartes, Paris, France; and
- †Laboratoire d’Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine Cochin-Port Royal, Université René Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Léa Tourneur
- *Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 477, Université René Descartes, Paris, France; and
| | - Hélène Trebeden
- *Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 477, Université René Descartes, Paris, France; and
| | - Jeannine Charreire
- *Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 477, Université René Descartes, Paris, France; and
| | - Gilles Chiocchia
- *Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 477, Université René Descartes, Paris, France; and
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Rivero VE, Cailleau C, Depiante-Depaoli M, Riera CM, Carnaud C. Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice are genetically susceptible to experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP). J Autoimmun 1998; 11:603-10. [PMID: 9878082 DOI: 10.1006/jaut.1998.0248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Rodents develop inflammatory, non-infectious, prostatitis upon autoimmuniz-ation with male accessory gland (MAG) extracts in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Although there appears to be differences among strains, with respect to susceptibility to induction, specific details are not known about the genetic bases of such differences. Because NOD mice have inherited a genetic predisposition to autoimmune lesions affecting, apart from the islets of Langerhans, a large array of secretory glands such as salivary glands, thyroid, parathyroids and adrenal cortex, we selected this strain to assess the influence of inherited genes upon experimentally-induced autoimmune prostatitis (EAP). Indeed, MAG extracts injected into young NOD males in association with CFA cause a severe inflammatory reaction in the prostate, accompanied by a humoral and T cell-mediated response. NOD mice develop a more aggressive form of EAP than Wistar rats, the strain of reference used to establish the model. In NOD mice, disease begins earlier, affects 100% of the animals, does not require boosting and leads to florid infiltrates circumscribed to lateral and dorsal prostatic lobes. Immune mice develop a T cell-mediated response to MAG assessed by in vitro proliferation and accompanied by the release of IFN-gamma, whereas IL-4 is not detectable in the same culture super-natants. To assess the influence of the NOD background genes upon EAP susceptibility, we tested C57BL/6.H2(g7) mice in parallel. NOD mice are considerably more susceptible to EAP induction than congenic C57BL/6.H2(g7) mice. Both strains demonstrate a detectable humoral and cell-mediated response against MAG, but the histopathological manifestations are considerably more dramatic in NOD than in the C57BL/6.H2(g7) strain. Our results thus support the notion that NOD mice have background genes which favour severe autoimmune manifestations, irrespective of the target tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- V E Rivero
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences, National University of Córdoba,
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42
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Tang H, Sharp GC, Chen K, Braley-Mullen H. The kinetics of cytokine gene expression in the thyroids of mice developing granulomatous experimental autoimmune thyroiditis. J Autoimmun 1998; 11:581-9. [PMID: 9878080 DOI: 10.1006/jaut.1998.0247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
To study the potential roles of cytokines in development and resolution of granulomatous experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), the kinetics of in vivo expression of cytokine genes in thyroid infiltrates was analysed using reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR). Both Th1 (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) and Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokines as well as TGF-betaTNF-alphaIL-12 and IL-1beta were detected in thyroids during both the initial phase and peak of granulomatous EAT. Maximal expression of cytokine genes generally occurred 11-14 days after cell transfer, prior to maximal EAT severity, which occurred 19-21 days after cell transfer. The relative ratios of Th1:Th2 cytokines and mouse thyroglobulin-(MTg)-specific IgG1 and IgG2a autoantibody levels were similar during both the initial phase and peak of EAT. Depletion of CD8(+) T cells did not decrease the severity of EAT but delayed resolution of lesions. Cytokine gene expression in thyroids was not decreased by anti-CD8 treatment. Together, these data indicate that both Th1 and Th2 cytokines produced by CD4(+) T cells are involved in induction and development of granulomatous EAT, and CD8-dependent resolution of granulomatous EAT is apparently not mediated by these cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Tang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
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44
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Tang H, Sharp GC, Peterson KP, Braley-Mullen H. IFN-γ-Deficient Mice Develop Severe Granulomatous Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis with Eosinophil Infiltration in Thyroids. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 1998. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.160.10.5105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
To study the role of IFN-γ in the development of granulomatous experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), DBA1 mice with a disrupted IFN-γ gene were used for adoptive EAT induction. Effector cells from either IFN-γ+/+ or IFN-γ−/− donor mice activated with mouse thyroglobulin and anti-IL-2R mAb induced severe granulomatous EAT. A predominant infiltration of the thyroid by eosinophils was observed in recipients of IFN-γ−/− effector cells but not in recipients of IFN-γ+/+ cells. Compared with wild-type mice, thyroids of recipients of IFN-γ−/− effector cells had decreased expression of mRNA for Th1 cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthetase. Expression of Th2 cytokine mRNA was comparable to that of IFN-γ+/+ mice, and expression of eotaxin was increased in the thyroids of recipients of IFN-γ−/− effector cells. Activation of cells from either IFN-γ+/+ or IFN-γ−/− donors in the presence of IL-12 also induced severe granulomatous EAT. Eosinophil infiltration in recipients of IFN-γ−/− cells was unaffected when effector cells were activated with IL-12, and thyroids expressed predominantly Th2 cytokines. The extent of fibrosis of recipient thyroids was generally greater when donor IFN-γ+/+ and IFN-γ−/− cells were activated with IL-12. Compared with IFN-γ+/+ mice, IFN-γ−/− mice produced lower levels of mouse thyroglobulin-specific autoantibodies after immunization with MTg and LPS. These results indicate that cells from both IFN-γ+/+ and IFN-γ−/− donors can induce severe granulomatous EAT. However, damage of thyroid follicles by IFN-γ−/− and that by IFN-γ+/+ cells appear to involve different mediators of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiwen Tang
- *Internal Medicine,
- †Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, and
| | - Gordon C. Sharp
- *Internal Medicine,
- ‡Pathology, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212
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45
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Sauvage MF, Marquet P, Rousseau A, Raby C, Buxeraud J, Lachâtre G. Relationship between psychotropic drugs and thyroid function: a review. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1998; 149:127-35. [PMID: 9571980 DOI: 10.1006/taap.1998.8367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Some widely used psychoactive drugs, such as tricyclic antidepressants and antipsychotic phenothiazines exhibit iatrogenic effects on the thyroid. These side effects may arise from interactions at different steps of thyroid hormone biosynthesis. These drugs can induce a change in iodine capture by thyroid cells or can complex iodine, making it unavailable for thyroid hormone synthesis and thus decreasing thyroid hormone blood levels; they can also inhibit thyroid peroxidase activity and thus T3 and T4 synthesis or enhance deiodination of T4 to T3 or to Rt3 by stimulation of deiodinase activity. Moreover, tricyclic antidepressants interfere with the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis via the noradrenergic or serotonergic systems and might therefore decrease T4 or T3 blood levels, respectively. Phenothiazines can induce autoimmune hypothyroidism, as shown by an increase in the expression of the major histocompatibility complex antigen and by a production of antithyroglobulin or antithyroperoxidase antibodies. However, all these mechanisms are only speculative in humans, as they have only been demonstrated in vitro or in animal experiments. Clinically, thyroid function and affective disorders are closely linked. On one hand, the therapeutic response to antidepressants could be influenced by the thyroid status; on the other hand, the larger the thyroxin decrease induced by antidepressants, the better the therapeutic effect might be. Moreover, cotreatment with thyroid hormones and antidepressant drugs could allow either a decrease in the rate of treatment failure or a faster recovery from depression. As antipsychotic or antidepressant treatments are administered over long periods in humans, their thyroid toxic effects must be taken seriously.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Sauvage
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University Hospital, Limoges, France
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46
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Takorabet L, Ropars A, Stasiuk L, Raby C, Charreire J. Phenothiazine-induced increase in thyroid autoantigens and costimulatory molecules on thyroid cells: a pathophysiological mechanism for drug-induced autoimmunity? Clin Exp Immunol 1998; 111:415-21. [PMID: 9486413 PMCID: PMC1904905 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1998.00507.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously demonstrated (J Immunol 1995; 154:3593) that MHC class II antigens can be induced on thyroid epithelial cells (TEC) by alimemazine, a member of the phenothiazine group. Although this expression of MHC class II antigens on TEC confers the theoretical ability to behave as antigen-presenting cells (APC), the simultaneous expression of self antigens and co-receptor(s) must also occur for efficient presentation of self antigens. Therefore, we investigated whether alimemazine applied at pharmacologic doses would modify the expression of thyroid antigens, and simultaneously, the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), B7, and LFA-1 co-receptors in human TEC in culture. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and Northern blot analysis, we showed that alimemazine induces increases in thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R) cDNA, within the first 2 h following its addition. This phenomenon is followed 48 h later by an increase of Tg and TSH-R protein expression on the surface of TEC. Furthermore, increases in the expression of ICAM-1 and B7 co-receptors were concomitantly observed. These results suggest that alimemazine, a drug currently used in paediatrics, could play a role in the induction and perpetuation of thyroid autoimmune disorders by transforming TEC into functional APC.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Takorabet
- INSERM U283, Université René Descartes, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
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47
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Tang H, Sharp GC, Peterson KE, Braley-Mullen H. Induction of Granulomatous Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis in IL-4 Gene-Disrupted Mice. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 1998. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.160.1.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
To study the role of IL-4 in development of granulomatous experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), IL-4 gene-disrupted mice expressing the EAT-susceptible H-2k haplotype were generated and used for EAT induction. Spleen cells from mouse thyroglobulin (MTg) and LPS-primed IL-4+/+ and IL-4−/− donors could induce severe granulomatous EAT when spleen cells were activated with MTg and anti-IL-2R mAb in the presence of IL-12. Thyroid lesions had extensive follicular cell proliferation, large numbers of histiocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and multinucleated giant cells, in addition to lymphocytes and other mononuclear cells. Expression of IFN-γ gene mRNA and production of IFN-γ by effector spleen cells stimulated with MTg and IL-12 were similar for both IL-4+/+ and IL-4−/− mice. Although IL-4 was undetectable in IL-4−/− mice, expression of mRNA for IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 and production of IL-5 by both MTg-activated spleen cells and anti-CD3-activated CD4+ T cells were comparable for cells from IL-4+/+ and IL-4−/− mice, indicating that the absence of IL-4 did not prevent production of other Th2 cytokines. Production of MTg-specific IgG1 was very low or undetectable in IL-4−/− mice. IL-4 gene mRNA and MTg-specific IgG1 could be detected in IL-4+/+ or IL-4−/− recipients only when they received effector cells from IL-4+/+ donor mice, indicating that IL-4- and IgG1-secreting cells are of donor origin. These results demonstrate that IL-4 is not essential for development of granulomatous EAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiwen Tang
- *Internal Medicine,
- †Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, and
| | - Gordon C. Sharp
- *Internal Medicine,
- ‡Pathology, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212
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48
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Abstract
To investigate the role of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in experimental autoimmune thyroidits (EAT), H-2k mice with a disrupted IFN-gamma receptor (IFN-gamma R) gene were immunized with porcine thyroglobulin (pTg). We observed that EAT occurred on day 19 and remitted on day 35 in IFN-gamma R-deficient (IFN-gamma R(0/0)) mice, whereas in wild-type mice, EAT occurred on day 21 and remitted on day 42-49. Moreover, EAT in the mutant mice was attenuated and accompanied by diminished Tg-specific cytotoxic and proliferative responses and decreased titers of anti-Tg antibodies, notably of the IgG2a and IgG2b isotypes. In contrast, Tg-specific IgG1 was increased in the IFN-gamma R(0/0) mice. In supernatants from T cells further stimulated in vitro by Tg, IFN-gamma levels were higher in IFN-gamma R(0/0) than in wild-type mice throughout the course of the disease, whereas interleukin-10 was transiently increased prior to EAT onset in both groups of mice. Finally, using IFN-gamma R(0/0) mice, we demonstrate that induction of EAT does not require an intact IFN-gamma system, while progression to full-blown disease depends on the action of IFN-gamma.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Alimi
- INSERM U 283, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
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49
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Braley-Mullen H, Sharp GC. A thyroxine-containing thyroglobulin peptide induces both lymphocytic and granulomatous forms of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis. J Autoimmun 1997; 10:531-40. [PMID: 9451592 DOI: 10.1006/jaut.1997.0160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mouse thyroglobulin (MTg)-sensitized spleen cells activated in vitro with MTg can induce two histologically distinct forms of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT). MTg-sensitized cells activated with MTg alone induce a mild chronic form of EAT in which the thyroid infiltrate consists primarily of lymphocytes and other mononuclear cells (lymphocytic EAT). The same donor cells activated with MTg and anti-IL2R mAb induce a more severe and acute form of EAT with a thyroid inflammatory lesion having granulomatous histopathological features. A thyroxine-containing (T4) peptide, corresponding to positions 2549-2560 of human Tg, was shown by others to activate spleen cells of mouse thyroglobulin (MTg)-sensitized CBA/J mice to induce lymphocytic EAT. To determine if the CD4+ effector T cells that induce granulomatous EAT can respond to the same T-cell epitope, the present study was undertaken to determine if both forms of EAT could be induced by the 2549-2560 thyroxine (T4)-containing peptide. This peptide was very effective for activation of T cells from MTg-primed CBA/J donors to induce granulomatous EAT but, in contrast to MTg, did not activate T cells from AKR/J or DBA/1 mice to induce granulomatous EAT. The T4 peptide did not apparently activate peptide-specific B cells in vivo but did activate MTg-primed B cells in vitro to produce anti-MTg autoantibody in recipient mice. These results demonstrate that a single 12-amino-acid thyroxine-containing peptide can activate T cells from CBA/J mice to induce both lymphocytic and granulomatous EAT. However, this peptide does not activate T cells from some other EAT-susceptible strains of mice, suggesting that MTg contains multiple epitopes able to activate T cells to induce granulomatous EAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Braley-Mullen
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia 65212, USA
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Damotte D, Colomb E, Cailleau C, Brousse N, Charreire J, Carnaud C. Analysis of susceptibility of NOD mice to spontaneous and experimentally induced thyroiditis. Eur J Immunol 1997; 27:2854-62. [PMID: 9394810 DOI: 10.1002/eji.1830271117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Beside diabetes, non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice develop sporadic lymphoid infiltration of the thyroid gland, mimicking Hashimoto's thyroiditis. We have examined the prevalence of those manifestations in NOD mice, the influence of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and the association with autoantibodies. The incidence at 1 year is of 14.3% in wild-type NOD mice versus 19.6% in congenic NOD.H2k mice. The moderate, but statistically significant difference, based on the analysis of 161 NOD and 169 NOD.H2k mice, suggests that MHC genes partially control spontaneous NOD thyroiditis. Autoantibodies against thyroglobulin (Tg) are mouse specific and their presence correlates closely with thyroiditis. The strong correlation between cellular and humoral anomalies therefore resembles Hashimoto's thyroiditis. NOD and NOD.H2k mice actively immunized against Tg develop severe chronic lesions with epithelium necrosis and interstitial tissue fibrosis. Most interestingly, those lesions do not regress spontaneously as in CBA/J mice. Paradoxically, the response to Tg of lymph node cells from NOD mice is weaker both in proliferation and cytokine production. The defect is most evident for interferon-gamma-producing T cells and is reflected in the marked deficit in IgG2a antibodies. Thus a moderate anti-Tg response seems to favor chronicity of thyroiditis. In conclusion, NOD and NOD.H2k mice offer a unique opportunity of analyzing the factors leading to immune chronicity in a genetic context which promotes autoimmune endocrinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Damotte
- INSERM U 25, Hôpital Necker, Paris, France
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