Associations of maternal oestradiol, cortisol, and TGF‐β1 plasma concentrations with thyroid autoantibodies during pregnancy and postpartum

Abstract

At postpartum, increased TGF-β1 is related to a less pronounced anti-TPO increase as compared to the 3rd trimester, suggesting an immunosuppressive role for TGF-β1. During pregnancy and postpartum, oestradiol, cortisol, and TGF-β1 are associated with suppression of thyroid autoantibodies.

TGF-β Physiology as a Novel Therapeutic Target Regarding Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases: Where Do We Stand and What to Expect

“…Moreover, maternal serum TGF-β concentrations are lower in the third than in the first and second trimester of pregnancy (Figure 1). Indeed, our recent research showed that serum TGF-β concentrations are higher during the 24th gestational week and the 1st post-partum week compared to those in the 36th gestational week [53]. In that study, mean serum TGF-β concentrations at the observation time-points evolved in a "mirror" image fashion in regard to the correlative mean serum cortisol concentrations, strongly indicating the existence of an important, tight physiologic interplay between TGF-β and glucocorticoids during gestation.…”

“…More specifically, this molecule suppresses the development of thyroid autoimmunity in the postpartum period by facilitating the transformation of naïve Tregs to iTregs, thus promoting their immunosuppressive role [55] (Figure 1). Based on our recent study, we reported that the difference between the serum TGF-β concentrations at the 36th gestational week and the ones at the 1st post-partum week (decreased and increased respectively) has an important negative predictive value regarding post-partum anti-TPO antibodies concentration [53]. Thus, this observation implies a significant, direct, and/or indirect inhibitory immune effect of TGF-β regarding the rise of anti-TPO antibodies concentrations associated with the post-partum period.…”

“…-Increase the susceptibility to Hashimoto's thyroiditis [41] and trigger the immune phenomena defining the initial pathophysiologic stage of this disease [42]. -Are associated with increased risk for post-partum thyroiditis [53], prolonged hyperthyroid phase, and increased autoantibody production in this disease [55].…”

“…Finally, increased third gestational trimester serum TGF-β concentrations might correlate to greater hazard for the development of autoimmune thyroid diseases during the post-partum period. [53].…”

Erratum

“…In the list of authors from article Sakkas et al . published in CEN v89 i6 (December 2018), the correct list should be Evangelos G. Sakkas, George Paltoglou, Anastasia Linardi, Alexandros Gryparis, Eleni Nteka, Nikos Chalarakis, Aimilia Mantzou, Nikolaos Vrachnis, Zoe Iliodromiti, Eftychia Koukkou, Efthymios Deligeoroglou, Grigorios E. Sakkas and George Mastorakos.…”