CD5⁺B Lymphocytes and CD4⁺CD45RA⁺T Cells in Graves' Disease

Abstract

Fifteen patients affected by new-onset Graves' disease with ophthalmopathy have been examined for lymphocyte subset phenotypes by two-colour cytometric analysis. CD5+ B cells were significantly increased in comparison to the normal population (43.2 +/- 20.6% versus 19.5 +/- 6.9%; p < 0.0009); total T cells showed a normal amount (70.4 +/- 9.6%), but the levels of THLADR+ cells were significantly increased in comparison to the control group (13.7 +/- 10.5% versus 4.7 +/- 3.2%; p < 0.007). The characterization of the subset suppressor-inducer CD4+ CD45RA+, evaluated as percentage of the total CD4+ T cells, showed a significant decrease in comparison with the control group (43.8 +/- 13.5% versus 52.3 +/- 6.5%; p < 0.03). Serum immunoglobulin evaluation showed a statistically significant increase of IgM (p < 0.05) and a significant decrease of IgA (p < 0.02). A statistical correlation between IgM levels and percentage of CD5+ B cells has been found (p < 0.04). The defect of suppressor-inducer T cell subset, along with the increase of CD5+ B cells may contribute to the pathogenetic mechanism of the disease in patients with a genetically-induced aberrant immune response.

Activated Naive CD4+Peripheral Blood T Cells in Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

“…That finding is confirmed by our data, although some deviating observations have been made by others (34), who even observed an increased proportion of CD8+ cells (35). In addition, a greater number of B cells among lymphocytes was seen in patients with GD than in healthy subjects.…”

“…Changes in the proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells have been observed in different disease settings, including AITD (20,(32)(33)(34)(35), which in the majority of reports displayed a reduction in circulating CD8 cells in GD and only in part also in AH (32). That finding is confirmed by our data, although some deviating observations have been made by others (34), who even observed an increased proportion of CD8+ cells (35).…”

The onset of Graves’ disease during the clinical course of myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis

“…9,10 Our case demonstrated the polyclonal activation of B cells, which lead to the production of several types of organ-specific autoantibodies (anti-TPO antibody, anti TSH-Rab) and a non-organspecific autoantibody (anti-MPO antibody) at one time. Harper et al concluded that the altered immune environment associated with autoimmune thyroid disease is not sufficient to develop ANCA but treatment with PTU is important in promoting ANCA development.…”

Autoimmune thyroid disease and antiphospholipid antibodies

“…The antibody titer was highest in patients with Graves' disease and decreased with methimazole treatment. Likewise, Marongiu found an increased incidence of APLA positivity in Graves' disease patients compared to healthy controls [6]. In these patients the antibody was of the IgG subtype.…”

“…However, other autoantibodies, including APLA, that are not thyroid specific have been detected in these patients [4]. The clinical significance of these antibodies is uncertain: some have reported that while patients with ATD may have circulating APLA they do not manifest any of the clinical abnormalities associated with the APLA syndrome while others have claimed that the presence of APLA may have clinical significance [5][6][7]. We recently encountered four patients with ATD in whom thromboembolic phenomena occurred.…”