Graves' disease is associated with a defective expression of the immune regulatory molecule galectin-9 in antigen-presenting dendritic cells.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) show defects in their immune-regulatory mechanisms. Herein we assessed the expression and function of galectin-1 and galectin-9 (Gal-1, Gal-9) in dendritic cells (DCs) from patients with AITD.

Materials and methods

Peripheral blood samples from 25 patients with Graves' disease (GD), 11 Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), and 24 healthy subjects were studied. Thyroid tissue samples from 44 patients with AITD and 22 patients with goiter were also analyzed. Expression and function of Gal-1 and Gal-9 was assessed by quantitative RT-PCR, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.

Results

A diminished expression of Gal-9, but not of Gal-1, by peripheral blood DCs was observed in GD patients, mainly in those with Graves´ oph

SUBMITTER: Leskela S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4399981 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature