Correlation between TSH Receptor Antibody Assays and Clinical Manifestations of Graves' Orbitopathy

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate an association between the levels of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-receptor autoantibodies (TRAbs) and Graves' orbitopathy (GO) activity/severity scores, and compare the performance of three different TRAb assays in assessing the clinical manifestations of GO.

Materials and Methods

Cross-sectional study. Medical records of 155 patients diagnosed with GO between January 2008 and December 2010 were reviewed. GO activity was assessed by clinical activity score (CAS) and severity graded with the modified NOSPECS score by a single observer. Serum TRAb was measured by three different methods: 1^st generation thyrotropin-binding inhibitor immunoglobulin (TBII) assay (TRAb1^st); 3^rd generation TBII assay (TRAb3^rd); and biological quantitative assay of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) using Mc4-CHO cells (Mc4-CHO TSI assay). Results were correlated with scores of activity/severity of thyroid eye disease.

Results

All three assays (TRAb1^st, TRAb3^rd, and Mc4-CHO TSI) yielded results that were significantly positively correlated with CAS (β=0.21, 0.21, and 0.46, respectively; p<0.05) and proptosis (β=0.38, 0.34, and 0.33, respectively; p<0.05). Mc4-CHO TSI bioassay results were significantly positively correlated with all GO severity indices (soft tissue involvement, proptosis, extraocular muscle involvement, and total eye score; β=0.31, 0.33, 0.25, and 0.39, respectively; p<0.05).

Conclusion

Mc4-CHO TSI bioassay was superior over the two TBIIs in assessing active inflammation and muscle restriction due to GO, whereas TBII assay would be sufficient for evaluation of patients with proptosis.

INTRODUCTION

Graves' disease (GD) is a well-known multi-systemic autoimmune disorder. An autoantibody specific for thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R), which induces thyroid follicular cells to overproduce thyroid hormones, directly causes GD.^1,2 Therefore, a test that specifically and sensitively detects TSH-R autoantibodies (TRAb) is a very useful tool for diagnosis,^3-6 patient follow-up,^6-8 prediction of relapse,⁶ and GD treatment monitoring.^8,9 Associated with Graves' disease is Graves' orbitopathy (GO), an inflammatory condition affecting the orbit around the eye. The pathogenesis of the ocular involvement of GD is explained by the expression of TSH-R not only in the thyroid follicular cells but also in adipocytes, fibroblasts, and lymphocytes in the orbit.^1,10 Although the link between GD and GO is still unclear,^11,12 the close association between onset of GD and the development of GO suggests that GD and GO may have common pathogenic mechanisms.¹ Thus, the idea that TRAb detection may be of clinical benefit in the assessment of thyroid eye disease makes the elucidation of the relationship between the autoantibodies and GO clinically valuable.^11-15

Currently, the techniques measuring TRAb are broadly divided into two categories: one is thyrotropin-binding inhibitor immunoglobulin (TBII) assay and the other is a functional thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) bioassay.² Since the development of TBII assay that quantifies serum TBII by exploiting the fact that the autoantibodies inhibit the binding of radiolabeled TSH to porcine thyroid membrane extract (1^st generation TBII assay), many efforts have been made to improve this technique. These improvements to increase the sensitivity of the test include replacing the porcine source of TSH-R with recombinant human TSH-R (2^nd generation TBII assay); introduction and application of the human monoclonal thyroid-stimulating antibody M22 (labeled with biotin or ruthenium); and TSH-R coated ELISA plate well (3^rd generation TBII assay)^3-5,16 The TSI bioassay measures the production of cyclic adenosine mono-phosphate (cAMP) generated in response to the interaction between TSH-R and TSI.^14,15,17 This method, therefore, enables identification of the functional characteristics of TRAb. However, this test is complicated to perform and involves considerable time and cost.² Additionally, labs conducting this test must be equipped to maintain and grow cell lines with tissue culture facilities. The TSI bioassay has also been significantly changed. Early versions of the bioassay measured the accumulation of ¹²⁵I-labeled cAMP using a radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit. Recently, the bioassay has used cAMP luciferase data as the endpoint. Compared to cAMP RIA, cAMP luciferase is advantageous due to the simplicity of the technique and superior sensitivity.¹⁷ Cell culture protocols have become much simpler and more effective over time, which is supported by the steady development of cell lines from a C6-18/wild type (wt) Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line, to a K1/wt CHO cell line, finally creating the Mc4-CHO cell line.^13,17

In the present study, we investigated whether a correlation existed between GO clinical features and TRAb as measured by the 1^st and 3^rd generation TBII assays, both of which are routinely used at our institution, as well as TSI as measured by a bioassay. The TSI bioassay used in our study uses a CHO cell line that is transfected with a Mc4 chimeric receptor. We also compared the performance of the three different TRAb assays in assessing the clinical features of thyroid eye disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients

Patients in this study were examined at the department of ophthalmology, Severance Hospital of Yonsei University College of Medicine between January 2008 and December 2010. All subjects were diagnosed with GO and a single observer (JSY) conducted follow-up of all patients. Diagnosis of GO was based on thorough clinical ophthalmic examination. The medical records of 168 patients with GO were reviewed and 13 patients were excluded because none of the three TRAb assays were performed. The medical records of the remaining 155 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Patient history, including diabetes, hypertension, any other autoimmune disorder, family history, smoking history, and type of treatment for GD were reviewed. GO activity was assessed using clinical activity score (CAS) as described by Mourits, et al.¹⁸ There were seven assessment items: spontaneous retrobulbar pain, pain on eye movement, eyelid erythema, conjunctival injection, chemosis, swelling of the lacrimal caruncle, and eyelid edema or fullness. If the patient had any of these signs or symptoms, one point was assigned for each item, with a total possible score between 0 and 7 points. GO severity was assessed by modified NOSPECS score and included soft tissue involvement, proptosis, and extraocular muscle (EOM) involvement. Each factor was separately graded and assessed, with the sum of the scores being equal to the total eye score (TES) (Table 1). The vision of each patient was checked and optic nerves were examined. If assessment revealed decreased vision and any disc swelling or pallor, or visual field defect or relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD positive) was present, the patient was diagnosed with compressive optic neuropathy (ON).

Table 1.

Modified NOSPECS Score to Define Disease Severity

Total eye score was the sum of soft tissue involvement, proptosis and extraocular muscle involvement score.

Each clinical measurement was performed at a consistent time following blood sampling and TRAb levels determined by all three assays were correlated with each clinical parameter.

Assays for TRAb detection

1^st generation TBII assay (TRAb1^st) was performed using the Assay for Thyrotropin Receptor Autoantibodies Kit from RSR Ltd. (Cardiff, UK) according to the manufacturer's instructions. This kit consists of TSH receptor and ¹²⁵I-labeled TSH. According to the manufacturer, this first generation assay is effective in detecting TRAb at concentrations ≥15 international units (IU)/L. TRAb was also measured with the 3^rd generation TBII assay (TRAb3^rd) using the automated Cobas electrochemiluminescence (Elecsys, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Penzberg, Germany). The cut-off value for positivity using this system was 1.75 IU/L.

Cell-based TSI bioassay

Mc4-TSI in patient sera was measured with Thyretain™ TSI Reporter BioAssay (Diagnostic Hybrids, Inc., Athens, OH, USA) according to manufacturer instructions. The cells used for the assay were genetically engineered CHO cells, in which a chimeric human TSH-R (Mc4) was transfected. Amino acids 262-335 of the human TSH-R were replaced with amino acids 261-329 of the rat lutropin-choriogonadotropin receptor to form the chimeric human TSH-R. Patient sera were incubated for approximately three hours with the CHO cell monolayer and any TSI present binded to the chimeric receptors on the cell surface. TSI/TSH-R binding induces activation of adenylate cyclase and triggers a signaling cascade resulting in increased intracellular cAMP. Intracellular cAMP then induces luciferase activity, which was measured as relative light units (RLU) detected by a luminometer in triplicate wells. The resulting data was expressed as the specimen-to-reference ratio (SRR) percent, which was calculated with the following equation:

SRR%=[(Average Test RLU)/(average reference control RLU)]×100%

Results were considered positive when SRR ≥140% of the reference control.

Data and statistical analysis

The relationship between GO patient autoantibody titer and GO activity/severity was assessed using Pearson correlation analysis. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted using GO clinical manifestations as the dependent variables and autoantibodies as the independent variables. Factors adjusted for included age, sex, smoking history, past history, and type of GD treatment, all of which may affect the clinical features of GO. An independent t-test was used to compare the mean autoantibody level between patients with and without ON. The statistical analyses were performed using SAS (SAS Institute Inc. v.9.1.3., Cary, NC, USA) and p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Among the 155 patients, TRAb1^st, TRAb3^rd, and TSI were used to measure serum autoantibodies in 113, 111, and 62 patients, respectively. Mean subject age was 42.3±13.8 and the male/female ratio was 32 (20.6% male) : 123 (79.4% female). Demographic and serological data are shown in Table 2. Most patients with GD (88.4%) had been medically treated with antithyroid drugs and the majority of subjects were biochemically in euthyroid state (85.8%). The duration of GO was an 18.0±16.0 month (range: 2-84 months).

Table 2.

Demographic and Serological Data of Subjects Enrolled in This Study

CAS, clinical activity score; DM, diabetes mellitus; GO, Graves' orbitopathy; HTN, hypertension; SRR, specimen to reference ratio; TES, total eye score; TSI, thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin.

TRAb1^st: 1^st generation thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) assay.

TRAb3^rd: 3^rd generation TBII assay.

Data are presented as mean±standard deviation (range), unless otherwise indicated.

TRAb and TSI positively correlate with GO clinical activity and severity

GO clinical activity was assessed using CAS and severity was assessed by modified NOSPECS score, including soft tissue involvement, proptosis, EOM involvement and TES.

Autoantibody levels measured by three different assays (TRAb1^st, TRAb3^rd, and Mc4-TSI bioassay) significantly positively correlated with both CAS (R=0.197, 0.200, 0.476, respectively; p<0.05) and proptosis (R=0.413, 0.352, 0.290, respectively; p<0.05). These correlations were determined by Pearson correlation analyses (Table 3).

Table 3.

Pearson Correlation of TSH-Receptor Autoantibody (TRAb) Levels with Associated Clinical Manifestations of Graves' Orbitopathy

CAS, clinical activity score; EOM, extraocular muscle involvement; Propto, proptosis; R, correlation coefficient; Soft, soft tissue involvement; SRR, specimen to reference ratio; TES, total eye score; TSI, thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone.

TRAb1^st: 1^st generation thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) assay.

TRAb3^rd: 3^rd generation TBII assay.

^*Significant p value (p<0.05 is considered statistically significant).

Possible confounders, such as age, sex, smoking history, underlying disorders, and GO treatment modality^11,12 were adjusted for by multivariate regression analyses (Table 4). Regression analyses yielded significant positive correlations between CAS and autoantibody levels measured by TRAb1^st, TRAb3^rd, and Mc4-TSI [regression coefficient (β)=0.21, 0.21, and 0.46, respectively; p<0.05] (Table 4). The correlation between the results of the TSI bioassay and CAS were stronger than those between CAS and TRAb1^st or TRAb3^rd. The results of both TBII assays (TRAb1^st and TRAb3^rd) and TSI were also positively correlated with proptosis (β=0.38, 0.34, and 0.33, respectively; p<0.05). The correlation coefficient between the results of the two TBII assays and proptosis were not different from that between the results of the TSI bioassay and proptosis. Interestingly, soft tissue and EOM involvement were positively correlated with only the TSI results (β=0.31, 0.25, respectively, p<0.05), and not the results of TRAb1^st or TRAb3^rd. TSI titers were significantly positively correlated with all clinical severity parameters, including TES (β=0.39, p<0.05) (Table 4).

Table 4.

Multivariate Regression Analyses of TSH-Receptor Autoantibody (TRAb) Levels and Clinical Manifestations of Graves' Orbitopathy

CAS, clinical activity score; EOM, extraocular muscle involvement; Propto, proptosis; β, regression coefficient; Soft, soft tissue involvement; SRR, specimen to reference ratio; TES, total eye score; TSI, thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone.

TRAb1^st: 1^st generation thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) assay.

TRAb3^rd: 3^rd generation TBII assay.

^*Adjusted for age, sex, smoking, underlying disease, hyperthyroidism treatment modality.

^†Significant p value (p<0.05 is considered statistically significant).

Vision and TSH-R autoantibodies

Compressive ON was diagnosed in 13 of the 155 patients (8.4%). Although no statistical significance was apparent between compressive ON and results of TRAb3^rd and the TSI assay, patients with ON did have elevated autoantibodies (Table 5).

Table 5.

Comparison of TSH-Receptor Autoantibody (TRAb) Levels between Graves' Orbitopathy Patients With and Without Optic Neuropathy

ON, optic neuropathy; SD, standard deviation; TSI, thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone.

TRAb1^st: 1^st generation thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) assay.

TRAb3^rd: 3^rd generation TBII assay.

^*Independent t-test was used for statistical analysis.

DISCUSSION

We investigated the relationship between TRAb levels assessed by two types of assays [TBII (TRAb1^st and TRAb3^rd) and TSI bioassay] and GO activity/severity. Pearson correlation analyses determined that a significant correlation existed between all the autoantibody levels in all three assays and both CAS (R=0.197, 0.200, and 0.476) and proptosis (R=0.413, 0.352, and 0.290). Multivariate regression analyses determined that TSI bioassay results were strongly positive correlated with all clinical scores of inflammatory activity and severity, including soft tissue involvement, proptosis, and myopathy. Importantly, the correlation coefficient between the TSI bioassay results and CAS (β=0.476) was more than 2-fold higher than those of the TRAb1^st and TRAb3^rd results (β=0.21 and 0.21, respectively), which supports the conclusion that the TSI bioassay is superior in assessing GO activity. Such strong relationship between TSI bioassay and GO activity was recently emphasized by Ponto, et al.¹⁹ The authors showed that all subjects with active GO were TSI bioassay positive, whereas only 84% were TBII positive, and reported that chemosis was only ocular sign to predict TSI levels using multivariable regression analysis.¹⁹

The TSI bioassay used in our study was the TSH-R luciferase reporter bioassay with Mc4-CHO cells, which is a novel technique.^17,20 In 2010, Lytton, et al.¹³ suggested that the results of the Mc4-CHO TSI bioassay are functional indicators of GO activity and severity, as they yielded a stronger positive correlation between TSI results and GO activity/severity. However, these authors assessed the relationship between TSI and GO severity only using the clinical severity score, which is equal to the sum of each severity class.¹³ In the present study, we investigated GO severity with greater specificity by considering each subset of GO severity separately using a modified NOSPECS scoring system. Using this method, we found that the results of the Mc4-CHO TSI bioassay were associated with all factors related to GO severity, including soft tissue involvement, proptosis, EOM involvement and TES (β=0.31, 0.33, 0.25, and 0.39, respectively; p<0.05 by multivariate regression analysis). Interestingly, we found that the correlation coefficients between the TBII assay results and proptosis (TRAb1^st, β=0.38; TRAb3^rd, β=0.34) were not different from that of the correlation between the TSI bioassay results and proptosis (β=0.33). As the key event in GO pathogenesis is the transference of orbital fibroblasts to adipocytes,^1,21,22 the clinical sign best reflecting this adipogenesis is proptosis.^21,23 Therefore, among the GO severity subclasses, it may be assumed that TRAb levels are principally related to proptosis. The results of TRAb1^st, the oldest conventional TBII assay, were associated with proptosis at a similar or even higher performance level compared to the results of TRAb3^rd or the TSI bioassay.

Proptosis can arise from not only an increase in fat volume but also an increase in muscle volume.²¹ Regensburg, et al.²¹ reported that an increase in muscle volume was associated with higher TBII values and impaired motility in GO patients. In contrast, Noh, et al.²⁴ reported that TBII levels were lower in GD patients with EOM enlargement compared to GD patients without GO. These incongruous results may be explained by the fact that the subjects of the two studies were of different races. The article by Eckstein, et al.²⁵ has mentioned that TSI might have superior clinical meaning in Asians rather than Caucasians since TSI are less prevalent in white patient. In the present study, which included only Asian subjects, results from two types of TBII assays were not associated with EOM involvement. In contrast, the results of the TSI bioassay were associated with EOM limitation. These data suggest that the TSI bioassay may be able to yield additional information, particularly in evaluating GO muscle involvement in Asians.

Because patients exhibit a heterogeneous clinical course, GO is difficult to assess and manage. Unfortunately, no reliable, specific medical treatment is yet available. It is also difficult to predict which patients with GD are affected by severe GO with respect to proptosis and myopathy. TBII measurements would be sufficient for patient follow-up with proptosis without muscle enlargement, as all three autoantibody assays demonstrated the same association with proptosis. Nevertheless, TSI would be extremely beneficial to evaluate patients with active inflammation or muscle restriction due to GO. Further investigation is needed to validate the clinical relevance of the Mc4-CHO TSI bioassay in terms of monitoring disease over time and GO prognostic assessment.