Evaluation of T cell stimulation by thyrotropin-receptor epitopes in Graves’ disease

• Published in: Journal of endocrinological investigation Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 52 - 56
• Main Authors: De Groot, L. J., Shin, Y. Ha, Pan, D., Gopalakrishnan, G., Hennessey, J. V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.01.2009
• Subjects: Endocrinology; Epitopes - immunology; Graves Disease - immunology; Graves Disease - radiotherapy; Humans; Iodine Radioisotopes - therapeutic use; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Original Articles; Receptors, Thyrotropin - immunology; Reproducibility of Results; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; autoimmune thyroid disease; epitopes; T cells; Graves’ disease; TSH-receptor
• ISSN: 0391-4097; 1720-8386; 1720-8386
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03345679

In Graves’ disease (GD) immunized T cells reactive to TSH-receptor epitopes contribute to pathogenesis through B cell help, and cytotoxicity. We evaluated T cell responses to synthetic TSH-receptor epitopes in hyperthyroid patients with GD prior to therapy, at 6–8 weeks after radioactive iodine (RAI) administration, or 6–8 months later when euthyroid, and in control subjects. All T cell responses were relatively low as generally found in human autoimmune diseases. Responses in hyperthyroid GD patients were significantly greater than among controls, were augmented 6–8 weeks after RAI treatment, were still present after patients became euthyroid, and did not differ between DR3+ and non-DR3+ patients. Patient’s T cells reacted to multiple different epitopes, and reactivity differed depending on the course of the disease and treatment. While certain epitopes most commonly cause T cell reactivity, we did not find evidence for a single or few “dominant” epitopes.