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Circulating T cell subsets in euthyroid Graves’ disease

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Abstract

T cell subpopulations recognized by surfaces markers of different functional meaning have been evaluated in 12 female patients with euthyroid Graves’ disease and in 2 patients with ophthalmopathy and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. We have used the following markers: i) receptors for Fc fragments of IgG; ii) antigens recognized by the monoclonal antibodies MLR4, 5/9, BT 2/9 (anti-DR). In the 12 patients with euthyroid Graves’ disease a marked decrease of TG cells (which proved to exert suppressor function in several in vitro systems) was observed, as previously reported in hyperthyroid Graves’ disease. The 2 Hashimoto’s patients with eye changes had normal or high TG. 5/9+ T cells (which contain cells with helper activity in vitro), as well as MLR4+ and BT 2/9+ cells (activated T cells) were normal in the majority of patients, but elevated in the 2 Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The observed abnormality of TG cells in euthyroid Graves’ disease might be consistent with the hypothesized autoimmune pathogenesis of endocrine ophthalmopathy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cattedra di Medicina Nucleare, ISMI, Università di Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132, Genova, Italy

    M. Bagnasco, G. Ciprandi & O. Ferrini

  2. Cattedra di Endocrinologia, ISMI, Università di Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, n. 6, 16132, Genova, Italy

    G. W. Canonica, S. Ferrini, W. Dirienzo & G. Giordano

Authors
  1. M. Bagnasco
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  2. G. W. Canonica
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  3. S. Ferrini
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  4. G. Ciprandi
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  5. W. Dirienzo
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  6. G. Giordano
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  7. O. Ferrini
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Bagnasco, M., Canonica, G.W., Ferrini, S. et al. Circulating T cell subsets in euthyroid Graves’ disease. J Endocrinol Invest 6, 119–123 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03350583

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03350583

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