Elevated follicular helper T Cells and expression of IL-21 in thyroid tissues are involved in the pathogenesis of Graves’ disease

• Published in: Immunologic research Vol. 62; no. 2; pp. 163 - 174
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jin, Ren, Meng, Zeng, Hua, Guo, Ying, Zhuang, Zhenwu, Feng, Zhimei, Yan, Haiyan, Xu, Mingtong, Liang, Weiwen, Yang, Chuan, Cheng, Hua, Ding, Helin, Yan, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Allergology; Autoantibodies - immunology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Case-Control Studies; Cyclic AMP - metabolism; Female; Gene Expression; Graves Disease - diagnosis; Graves Disease - genetics; Graves Disease - immunology; Graves Disease - metabolism; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Immunology; Interleukins - genetics; Interleukins - metabolism; Internal Medicine; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Male; Medicine/Public Health; Middle Aged; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - immunology; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - metabolism; Thyroid Gland - immunology; Thyroid Gland - metabolism; Thyroid Gland - pathology; Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP); Graves’ disease; Interleukin-21(IL-21); Follicular helper T Cell

The follicular helper T cell (Tfh) and IL-21 have been shown to play an important role in many autoimmune diseases. However, less is known about their role in Graves’ disease (GD). This study aimed to investigate the expression of Tfhs and related factors (IL-21, IL-21R, CXCR5, and CXCL13) in GD thy...