ACCUMULATION OF THYROID ANTIGEN-REACTIVE T-LYMPHOCYTES IN GLAND OF PATIENTS WITH SUB-ACUTE THYROIDITIS

Abstract

Blood and thyroid-infiltrating lymphocytes from patients with de Quervain''s subacute thyroiditis were tested in the leukocyte migration inhibition test for cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to thyroid antigen. Blood leukocytes were positive for CMI in 11 out of 13 (85%) patients in the acute phase of the disease. In 5 cases (repeatedly tested) this reactivity disappeared after 7-11 mo. Thyroid-infiltrating lymphocytes were obtained from 8 patients by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. There was a relative accumulation of T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes (90 .+-. 5%) in the thyroid gland as compared to lower numbers of T cells (65 .+-. 5%) in the blood. When thyroid-infiltrating lymphocytes were tested for CMI to thyroid antigen, a significantly stronger inhibition was demonstrated with the infiltrating lymphocytes as compared to that of blood leukocytes. Thyroid antigen-reactive T cells accumulate in the glands of patients with subacute thyroiditis. This observation is in accordance with the presumed viral etiology of this disorder.