Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Clinical and Experimental Immunology logoLink to Clinical and Experimental Immunology
. 1991 Jan;83(1):64–68. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1991.tb05589.x

Spatial correlation between thyroid epithelial cells expressing class II MHC molecules and interferon-gamma-containing lymphocytes in human thyroid autoimmune disease.

F Hamilton 1, M Black 1, M A Farquharson 1, C Stewart 1, A K Foulis 1
PMCID: PMC1535458  PMID: 1899065

Abstract

In this immunohistochemical study we addressed the question whether aberrant class II MHC expression by thyroid epithelial cells (thyrocytes) in established thyroid autoimmune disease is the result of release of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by adjacent lymphocytes. Thyroids from eight cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 13 cases of Graves' disease and 10 cases of focal thyroiditis were studied. Both thyrocytes expressing class II MHC and lymphocytes containing immunoreactive IFN-gamma were found in all 31 autoimmune thyroids. In a serial section study of these thyroids, IFN-gamma-expressing lymphocytes were found within 50 microns of class II MHC-positive thyrocytes in 89% of 282 randomly selected fields. Conversely, class II MHC-positive thyrocytes were found within 50 micron of aggregates of IFN-gamma-positive lymphocytes in 82% of 272 randomly selected fields. These findings support the view that in established thyroid autoimmune disease expression of class II MHC by thyrocytes is the result of local release of IFN-gamma.

Full text

PDF
64

Images in this article

66Fig. 1
on p.66
67Fig. 2
on p.67

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Aichinger G., Fill H., Wick G. In situ immune complexes, lymphocyte subpopulations, and HLA-DR-positive epithelial cells in Hashimoto thyroiditis. Lab Invest. 1985 Feb;52(2):132–140. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Davies T. F. Cocultures of human thyroid monolayer cells and autologous T cells: impact of HLA class II antigen expression. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1985 Sep;61(3):418–422. doi: 10.1210/jcem-61-3-418. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Hanafusa T., Pujol-Borrell R., Chiovato L., Russell R. C., Doniach D., Bottazzo G. F. Aberrant expression of HLA-DR antigen on thyrocytes in Graves' disease: relevance for autoimmunity. Lancet. 1983 Nov 12;2(8359):1111–1115. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(83)90628-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Jansson R., Karlsson A., Forsum U. Intrathyroidal HLA-DR expression and T lymphocyte phenotypes in Graves' thyrotoxicosis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and nodular colloid goitre. Clin Exp Immunol. 1984 Nov;58(2):264–272. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Kissonerghis A. M., Grubeck-Loebenstein B., Pirich K., Feldmann M., Londei M. Tumour necrosis factor synergises with gamma interferon on the induction of mRNA for DR alpha chain on thyrocytes from Graves' disease and non toxic goitre. Autoimmunity. 1989;4(4):255–266. doi: 10.3109/08916938909014702. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Lloyd R. V., Johnson T. L., Blaivas M., Sisson J. C., Wilson B. S. Detection of HLA-DR antigens in paraffin-embedded thyroid epithelial cells with a monoclonal antibody. Am J Pathol. 1985 Jul;120(1):106–111. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Londei M., Bottazzo G. F., Feldmann M. Human T-cell clones from autoimmune thyroid glands: specific recognition of autologous thyroid cells. Science. 1985 Apr 5;228(4695):85–89. doi: 10.1126/science.3871967. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Londei M., Lamb J. R., Bottazzo G. F., Feldmann M. Epithelial cells expressing aberrant MHC class II determinants can present antigen to cloned human T cells. Nature. 1984 Dec 13;312(5995):639–641. doi: 10.1038/312639a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lucas-Martin A., Foz-Sala M., Todd I., Bottazzo G. F., Pujol-Borrell R. Occurrence of thyrocyte HLA class II expression in a wide variety of thyroid diseases: relationship with lymphocytic infiltration and thyroid autoantibodies. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1988 Feb;66(2):367–375. doi: 10.1210/jcem-66-2-367. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Margolick J. B., Weetman A. P., Burman K. D. Immunohistochemical analysis of intrathyroidal lymphocytes in Graves' disease: evidence of activated T cells and production of interferon-gamma. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1988 May;47(2):208–218. doi: 10.1016/0090-1229(88)90073-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Neefjes J. J., Hensen E. J., de Kroon T. I., Ploegh H. L. A biochemical characterization of feline MHC products: unusually high expression of class II antigens on peripheral blood lymphocytes. Immunogenetics. 1986;23(5):341–347. doi: 10.1007/BF00398799. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Todd I., Pujol-Borrell R., Hammond L. J., Bottazzo G. F., Feldmann M. Interferon-gamma induces HLA-DR expression by thyroid epithelium. Clin Exp Immunol. 1985 Aug;61(2):265–273. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Weaver C. T., Unanue E. R. The costimulatory function of antigen-presenting cells. Immunol Today. 1990 Feb;11(2):49–55. doi: 10.1016/0167-5699(90)90018-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Clinical and Experimental Immunology are provided here courtesy of British Society for Immunology

RESOURCES