Production of some cytokines in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease

Abstract

Imbalance ofproinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines makes a considerable contribution to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including those of the thyroid. The specific features ofperipheral mononuclear cell production of anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, IL-1(3, and IL-6), the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the serum and the serum level of autoantibodies to thyroglobulin were studied by enzyme immunoassay in 20 patients with histologically verified diffuse toxic goiter (DTG) and in 18 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). Both in DTG and AIT, there was a significant enhancement of the capacity of peripheral blood cells to the spontaneous production of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, IL-1(3, and IL-6), which is indicative of preexisting cell activation; their diminished capacity to respond to an inductor in vitro, which reflects an in vivo potential response to antigenic stimulation; as well as increased IL-10 synthesis. More pronounced impairments of cytokine-producing capacity were observed along with the more active formation of autoantibodies to thyroglobulin in patients with AIT.