Naslov
Pregnancy-induced changes in regulatory network of NKT and T regulatory cells (Tregs) in autoimmune thyreoid disease

Autori
Mrakovcic-Sutic, I ; Bogovic-Crncic, T ; Baricev-Novakovic, Z ; Sutic, I ; Pavisic, V ; Bulog, A ; Micovic, V

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Skup
Autoimmunity Congress of Asia 2013

Mjesto i datum
Hong Kong, Kina, 20.11.2013. - 23.11.2013

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
autoimmune thyreoid disease; NKT cells; Tregs

Sažetak
Introduction: Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) represent a group of disorders of organ function that occur as a result of immune responses directed against its own thyroid follicular cells in the presence of circulating antibodies specific for thyroid antigens, following with the activation of cellular immune response, including the release of cytokines, lymphocyte infiltration and cell destruction. AITD includes two main clinical entities: Graves' disease and Hashimoto thyroiditis. They affect often women of reproductive age. During healthy pregnancy predominant is Th2 over Th1 immune response, which explains the improvement of autoimmune disease during pregnancy, while after delivery because of the changes in Th1/Th2 ratios often leads to deterioration of AITD. Regulatory network of NKT and Tregs seems to play an important role in mediating maternal tolerance to fetus. NKT cells are involved in the regulation of innate immunity, posttransplantation reaction, tumor rejection, autoimmune disease (diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, SLE, myasthenia gravis, asthma, RA, etc.), Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have a crucial role in peripheral T-cell tolerance. Their deficiency may trigger the development of autoimmune syndrome: thyroiditis, colitis, arthritis, insulin-dependent diabetes gastritis, and occurrence of allergic diseases, while their activation may prevent the immune response against tumors and intracellular pathogens. Although many researches have been done in the field of thyroid autoimmunity, very few studies investigated the role of innate immunity in AITD during human pregnancy and in early postpartum period. Patients and methods: We investigated the role of NKT and Tregs in presence of ATD in pregnancy and in postpartum period in women with hormonal status determination and with positive titer of thyroid antibodies and autoantibodies and compared them with healthy pregnant women, as well as in healthy women in postpartum period and not pregnant women. We analyzed the phenotype and cytolytic potential of isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of pregnant women and postpartum women, and not pregnant women, using flow cytometry analysis. Results: We investigated 145 pregnant women, 25% of pregnant women and 41.5% in postpartum period had the AITD. The cells of innate immunity: NKT and Tregs are increased in healthy pregnancies and in pregnancies with hypo-and hyperthyroidism, as well as postpartum in all examine groups. NKT cells are decreased in pregnant women with positive antibodies indicating a lost of NKT cells’ protective effect in pregnancy with positive antibodies. Conclusion: Pregnancy and early postpartum period have a great effect on interaction of innate immunity and the function of the thyroid gland. During AITD changes are more pronounced, especially postpartum. Acknowledgment: The research was supported by grant from the Croatian Ministry of Science (project no. 062 0096-0094)

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Temeljne medicinske znanosti, Kliničke medicinske znanosti, Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

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