AUTOIMMUNE THYROIDITIS: A CONDITION RELATED TO A DECREASE IN T‐SUPPRESSOR CELLS

Authors:
  • MWM. DE Waele
    M. DE Waele
  • BCB. VAN Camp
    B. VAN Camp
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
SUMMARY: Monoclonal antibodies recognizing specific antigenic determinants of peripheral T‐lymphocytes (OKT3PAN), helper T‐cells (OKT4IND) and suppressor T‐cells (OKT8SUP) were used to study the immune regulation in autoimmune thyroiditis. An indirect immunofluorescence microscopy method was employed to quantify the number of different subtypes. In addition, B‐lymphocytes were also studied using a fluorescent surface Ig detection technique. Patients with autoimmune thyroiditis—independent of their clinical status—show a decrease in the number of suppressor T‐lymphocytes. This finding, in agreement with other functional tests, indicates that the autoimmune phenomenon is linked to a decreased T‐suppressor activity.

This publication has 14 references indexed in Scilit: