Inhibition of immunoglobulin-secreting cells by antithyroid drugs
Abstract
Previous studies have indicated that titers of thyroid-specific autoantibodies decrease in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease during antithyroid drug therapy. In keeping with these observations has been the accumulating evidence that such drugs may have an immunosuppressive action both in vivo and in vitro. To further analyze the mechanism of such activity, we have used an indirect hemolytic plaque assay based on protein A-coated sheep red blood cells and a specific plaque-forming cell (PFC) assay based on human thyroglobulin-linked sheep red blood cells. When freshly prepared peripheral mononuclear cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of methimazole or propylthiouracil (PTU), there was no significant effect on spontaneous plaque-forming cell responses (PFC). However, after incubation for more than 6 days with methimazole or PTU, there was a marked dose-related inhibition of pokeweed mitogen stimulated PFC, the degree of inhibition varying from one individual to another. Overall, there were 31.5 +/- 9.6% and 32.5 +/- 5.2% reductions in plaque formation with 10(-4) M methimazole or PTU, respectively, a level which probably approximates intrathyroidal thionamide concentrations in patients. A similar inhibitory re...Continue Reading
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Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Autoimmune thyroiditis is an inflammatory disease of thyroid gland due to autoimmune responses leading to lymphocytic infiltration of the gland. It is characterized by the presence of circulating thyroid antigen-specific T-cells and thyroid autoantibodies. Discover the latest research on autoimmune thyroiditis here.