BACKGROUND: Effective control of autoimmune inflammation in Graves’ disease determines necessity to study the T helper (Th) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes dysfunction, as well as the level of regulatory T-cells (Treg) activation in patients with Graves’ disease on thyrostatic medication, which will clarify the immunomodulatory effects of long-term thiamazole treatment serve as targets for more specific therapies.AIM: To study the phenotypic composition of T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with Graves’ disease to assess the direction of immune response depending on thimazole-induced euthyroidism duration.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-center, cohort, continuous, open-label, controlled trial was conducted to assess the phenotypic composition of T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood in women with Graves’ disease on long-term thiamazole treatment. The phenotypic composition of T-lymphocytes was determined by flow cytometry using direct immunofluorescence with conjugated FITC monoclonal antibodies depending on the duration of thimazole-induced euthyroidism of long-term thiamazole treatment.RESULTS: The study included 135 women with Graves’ disease, mean age 43.09±12.81 years, 120 (88.91%) with a relapse of the disease and 15 (11.09%) with newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism. An increase of activated CD3+CD4+CD25+ was found in patients with Graves’ disease with a duration of thimazole-induced euthyroidism 5–8 months and 9–12 months, respectively, Me=0.94 (0.48–1.45), p=0.020) and Me=0.95 (0.41–1.80), p=0.025), in control group — Me=0.12 (0.03–0.68). Compared to the control an increase of CD4+CD25+CD127Low (Treg) was found in patients with a duration of thimazole-induced euthyroidism 5–8 and 9–12 months. The content of Treg in peripheral blood in Graves’ disease patients with a duration of thimazole-induced euthyroidism more than 12 months decreases, but remains elevated relative to the control.CONCLUSION: In patients with Graves’ disease with a duration of thimazole-induced euthyroidism 5–8 months and 9–12 months the level of Treg has been increased. The increase of activated Th (CD3+CD4+CD25+) persists independently of thimazole-induced euthyroidism. In patients with Graves’ disease with a duration of thimazole-induced euthyroidism for more than 12 months, there is a compensatory increase in regulatory T-lymphocyte, and the total number of T-helpers is restored to the control.
The present review is focused on the relationship between growth hormone (GH) production and the state of the immune system. The influence of growth factors on the population and subpopulation composition of CD-expressing lymphocytes, functional activity of immune cells, and apoptosis is discussed. The detailed description of the role of disturbances in the pituitary somatotrophic function and the concomitant immune disorders is presented with special reference to the development of neoplastic processes. Changes in the immune system of the patients with chronic hypersecretion of growth factors are described. Tight interactions between the immune and endocrine systems appear to greatly contribute to tumour pathogenesis and have direct effect on the survivorship rate among the patients with acromegaly.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.