Serial analysis of the effects of methimazole or radical therapy on circulating CD16/56 subpopulations in Graves' disease

Abstract

The distribution of peripheral blood CD16/56 cytotoxic T and natural killer (NK) cells in Graves' disease patients is analyzed in order to correlate them with disease activity and with prognosis. Eighteen patients with Graves' disease, twenty-four patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and thirtytwo sex-and age-matched healthy control subjects were studied. Peripheral blood CD16/56 (cytotoxic T and NK) cells were analyzed by cytofluorometry. A decreased proportion of CD16/56þ and CD16/ 56þCD3þ cells were detected in Graves' disease patients when compared with thyroiditis patients and healthy control groups. No correlation was detected with serum free thyroxine. On diagnosis, patients who would require a radical treatment for thyrotoxicosis control showed a significant decrease of cytotoxic CD56þ T (CD3þ) and NK (CD3¹) cells compared with those who would maintain the euthyroid state after methimazole. These results suggest that the cytotoxic compartment, both T and NK cells, of the immune system is altered in patients with Graves' disease, independently of the functional thyroid status. Changes in peripheral blood lymphocytes in Graves' disease patients could be useful as predictive markers of an unfavorable outcome.

Analysis of Circulating T γ/δ Lymphocytes and CD16/56 Cell Populations in Children and Adolescents with Graves' Disease

“…Our findings are in agreement with the studies of Rojano et al (5), although they observed that the percentages of CD16/56 cell populations after thyrostatic therapy were still lower in comparison with healthy control subjects. In addition, the authors underlined the role of these subpopulations of cells as a prognostic marker of GD.…”

“…Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) characterized by the production of thyroid autoantibodies against the TSH receptor, symporter Na ϩ / Ϫ , thyroglobulin or thyroperoxidase antigen, and lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland (1,2). The immune cells [lymphocytes ␥␦ T-cell receptor (TCR), CD16/56(CD3ϩ), and natural killer (NK) cells] may play a pivotal role in the development of AITD (3)(4)(5).…”

“…A substantial role also can be ascribed to subpopulations of CD16/56ϩ lymphocytes, the so-called cytotoxic (with CD3ϩ) cells and NK (with CD3Ϫ) cells (5). Numerous studies have revealed disturbances in the distribution and function of these subpopulations in adults in several immune diseases, including lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, and thyroid autoimmune diseases (12)(13)(14).…”

An increase of oxidative stress markers and the alteration of the antioxidant enzymatic system are associated with spleen damage caused by methimazole-induced hypothyroidism

“…About 5% of patients treated with antithyroid compounds have liver (Woeber, 2002;Casallo Blanco et al, 2007), lung (Tsai et al, 2001) or renal damage (Calañas-Continente et al, 2005). Also, there are other extrathyroid actions of these drugs that involve the immunological system (Gessl and Waldhausl, 1998;Rojano et al, 1998;Wang et al, 2003). Hypothyroidism has been described as having two opposing effects of oxidative stress and cell damage.…”

Influência do hipotireoidismo na progressão do melanoma experimental

“…Vários outros estudos apontam o hipotireoidismo como complicação freqüente nos tratamentos antineoplásicos como a radioterapia em pacientes com neoplasia de cabeça e pescoço ou com o uso de Interleucina-2 e Interferon alfa-2 no tratamento de tipos câncer, entre eles o melanoma (DORVAL et al, 1992;KRUIT et al, 1991;MINI et al, 2001;MÖNIG;HAUSCHILD;LANGE;FÖLSCH, 1994;ROSE et al, 1999 Experimento 1 -crescimento local e sobrevida:…”