Human Thyroglobulin and Thyroid Extract as Specific Stimulators of Sensitized Lymphocytes

Abstract

Lymphocytes from peripheral blood of patients with various thyroid diseases and of healthy volunteers were tested for blast transformation reaction by human thyroglobulin, thyroid extract, adrenal extract, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and staphylococcal nitrate (SF). The subjects comprised 9 patients with Hashimoto's disease, 12 hypothyroids, 8 with nontoxic goiter, 10 thyrotoxics, and 15 healthy controls. Lymphocytes from 6 of the patients with Hashimoto's disease were specifically stimulated to transform by human thyroglobulin or thyroid extract, while, among the other groups tested, only one patient with nontoxic goiter demonstrated a significant specific stimulation. It is suggested that the specific blast transformation may be caused by auto-immunization to thyroid antigens.