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T Cells and Thyroid Autoimmunity

Autoimmune thyroid disease is the archetype of organ-specific autoimmune disorders and shares with them T cell dependence. The observation that thyroid cells in autoimmune thyroid disease express the major histocompatibility complex molecule HLA-DR led to the hypothesis that they could present antig...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Tandon, N, Weetman, A P
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Royal College of Physicians of London 1994
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5400929/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8169877
Descripción
Sumario:Autoimmune thyroid disease is the archetype of organ-specific autoimmune disorders and shares with them T cell dependence. The observation that thyroid cells in autoimmune thyroid disease express the major histocompatibility complex molecule HLA-DR led to the hypothesis that they could present antigen and initiate or maintain the autoimmune process. However, functional experiments, and recent evidence indicating that provision of a co-stimulatory signal is also essential for efficient antigen presentation, argue against such a role. The analysis of T cell responses to two major thyroid antigens, thyroid peroxidase and the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor, reveals a heterogeneity both within and between patients, and intrathyroidal T cells show diverse usage of T cell receptor genes. Therefore, any strategy that uses modified peptides, monoclonal antibodies against specific T cell receptor molecules, or T cell vaccination for the purpose of treating thyroid autoimmunity is unlikely to succeed.