Intestinal permeability is associated with aggravated inflammation and myofibroblast accumulation in Graves' orbitopathy: the MicroGO study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Graves' disease (GD) and Graves' orbitopathy (GO) result from ongoing stimulation of the TSH receptor due to autoantibodies acting as persistent agonists. Orbital pre-adipocytes and fibroblasts also express the TSH receptor, resulting in expanded retro-orbital tissue and causing exophthalmos and limited eye movement. Recent studies have shown that GD/GO patients have a disturbed gut microbiome composition, which has been associated with increased intestinal permeability. This study hypothesizes that enhanced intestinal permeability may aggravate orbital inflammation and, thus, increase myofibroblast differentiation and the degree of fibrosis.

Methods

Two distinct cohorts of GO patients were studied, one of which was a unique cohort consisting of blood, fecal, and

SUBMITTER: Fenneman AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10724020 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature