Th1 and Th2 Serum Cytokine Profiles Characterize Patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (Th1) and Graves’ Disease (Th2)

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to document the pattern of immune response, assessed by the measurement of both Th1 and Th2 serum cytokines, in patients suffering from autoimmune thyroid disease and toxic nodular goiter. Methods: Both Th1 and Th2 serum cytokine levels were assayed in patients suffering from Graves’ disease (GD, n = 25), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT, n = 21), and toxic nodular goiter (TNG, n = 7) and compared with corresponding levels of 25 healthy controls. Serum concentrations of IL-2, IL-1β, INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-12, IL-15, IL-10, IL-18, IL-4 and IL-5 were assayed in fasting serum samples. Results: It was found that patients with HT had higher IL-2 serum levels (12.16 ± 0.66 pg/ml) compared to patients with TNG (9.25 ± 0.84 pg/ml), GD (7.86 ± 0.30 pg/ml) and controls (7.36 ± 0.45 pg/ml; p = 0.0001), higher INF-γ levels (7.60 ± 0.33 pg/ml) compared to patients with TNG (5.77 ± 0.55 pg/ml), GD (5.74 ± 0.24 pg/ml) and controls (5.09 ± 0.27 pg/ml; p = 0.0009), higher IL-12 levels (3.57 ± 0.19 pg/ml) compared to patients with TNG (2.57 ± 0.21 pg/ml), GD (2.48 ± 0.13 pg/ml) and controls (2.59 ± 0.23 pg/ml; p = 0.004), and higher IL-18 levels (27.52 ± 1.75 pg/ml) compared to patients with TNG (18.71 ± 2.24 pg/ml), GD (15.44 ± 1.39 pg/ml) and controls (15.16 ± 1.62 pg/ml; p = 0.0002). In contrast, patients with GD had higher serum levels of IL-4 (4.11 ± 0.33 pg/ml) compared to patients with HT (3.0 ± 0.16; p = 0.02) and higher IL-5 levels (4.22 ± 0.30 pg/ml) compared to patients with TNG (3.21 ± 0.58 pg/ml), HT (2.75 ± 0.16 pg/ml) and controls (2.0 ± 0.19 pg/ml; p = 0.0001). Patients had lower IL-1β serum levels (TNG 2.45 ± 0.20, HT 2.52 ± 0.14, GD 2.68 ± 0.12 pg/ml) compared to controls (3.6 ± 0.20 pg/ml; p = 0.008). Conclusions: The above findings suggest that a Th1 pattern of immune response characteristic of cellular immunity is dominant in HT, whereas the predominance of Th2 cytokines in GD indicates a humoral pattern of immune reaction.

Imbalances in T Cell-Related Transcription Factors Among Patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

“…6 Higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-12 have been reported among patients with HT, which may account for the increased expression of T-bet in these patients. 27,28 It seems that HT is a Th1-dependent process in that the IFN-γ-secreting Th1 cells activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes and macrophages, killing thyroid follicular cells. 28 The current study also demonstrated that expression of GATA 3 , the Th2 transcription factor, was significantly increased among HT patients as compared to the healthy controls.…”

Rola układu immunologicznego oraz udział cytokin w patomechanizmie autoimmunologicznej choroby tarczycy (AITD)

“…The fact that these two functionally opposite states can develop in the same person at different periods suggests that the Th1/Th2 balance and the related cytokine profile is a dynamic process, evolving under the influence of external factors operating in the local environment of the thyroid gland [23,24].…”

Serum interleukin-23 (IL-23) is increased in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

“…On the basis of the cytokine secretion profile, CD4+ Th lymphocytes were originally subdivided into Th1 and Th2 cells. Th1 produce interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon γ (IFN-γ), and lymphotoxin and induce cellular responses [3,4]. Th2 cells secrete IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, and IL-13 and promote production of antibodies by B lymphocytes [3,4].…”

“…Th1 produce interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon γ (IFN-γ), and lymphotoxin and induce cellular responses [3,4]. Th2 cells secrete IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, and IL-13 and promote production of antibodies by B lymphocytes [3,4]. A predominant Th1-driven autoimmune response has been clearly recognized in HT, while Graves' disease (GD) is induced by thyroid stimulating autoantibodies to TSH receptor and is considered a Th2-related disease [3,4].…”