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Forty patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis ( HT) and 20 healthy subjects with matched age-and sex-features ( NC) were selected. The patients with HT were further divided into normal thyroid function ( HT-A) and hypothyroidism ( HT-B) groups. Real-time PCR was performed to evaluate the expressions of Notch1, Dll4, and retinoid-related orphan receptor ( ROR )-γt mRNA. Flow-cytometry was used to detect the percentage of Th17 cells. Thyroid function, thyroid peroxidase antibody ( TPOAb) , and thyroglobulin antibody ( TgAb) were detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassaies. The results showed that the Notch1, Dll4, ROR-γt mRNA levels and Th17 cell percentage were significantly increased in HT group compared with NC group (all P<0.01), especially in HT-B group. In HT patients, Notch1 and Dll4 mRNA expression levels were positively correlated with Th17 cell percentage and its transcription factor ROR-γt ( all P<0.01) . Besides, there were significantly positive correlations of Notch1 and Dll4 mRNA expressions with TPOAb and TgAb titers (P<0.05 or P<0.01). These results suggest that Notch1-Dll4 signaling pathway might be involved in the pathogenesis of thyroid-specific autoimmune damage by regulating Th17 cells in HT patients.
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Objective@#To investigate the association between macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) -173G/C gene polymorphism and the susceptibility to immune-related diseases in Chinese Han population.@*Methods@#Databases of Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed, Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMbase) and Web of Science (WOS) were comprehensively searched for pertinent articles published in Chinese and English. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used as effect size measures. Publication bias was examined by Brgge′s funnel plots and Egger′s test. Revman 5.3 and STATA 12.0 software were used for statistical analysis.@*Results@#Nine articles were included in this meta-analysis and the studied immune-related diseases included UC (ulcerative colitis), CD (Crohn′s disease), RA (rheumatoid arthritis), PS (psoriasis), asthma, BD (Behçet′s disease), VKH (Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome), AOSD (adult-onset Still′s disease) and AD (atopic dermatitis). The overall result of the meta-analysis showed that the MIF 173G/C gene polymorphism could increase the susceptibility to immune-related diseases in Chinese Han people (recessive genetic model: OR=1.92, 95%CI: 1.44-2.58; dominant genetic model: OR=1.44, 95%CI: 1.28-1.61; allele model: OR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.22-1.34; homozygote model: OR=1.98, 95%CI: 1.51-2.60; heterozygote model: OR=1.24, 95%CI: 1.11-1.40; all P<0.01). In addition, a subgroup analysis of the North and South of China showed that except for the heterozygote model in the North group, the recessive model (OR=2.03, 95%CI: 1.24-3.31), dominant genetic model (OR=1.51, 95%CI: 1.24-1.83), allele model (OR=1.37, 95%CI: 1.22-1.54) and homozygote model (OR=2.08, 95%CI: 1.31-2.30) all had statistical significance. All of the five models in the South group showed statistical significance (recessive model: OR=1.88, 95%CI: 1.31-2.69; dominant genetic model: OR=1.40, 95%CI: 1.22-1.61; allele model: OR=1.29, 95%CI: 1.10-1.52; homozygote model: OR=1.93, 95%CI: 1.38-2.71; heterozygote model: OR=1.19, 95%CI: 1.08-1.31; all P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The polymorphism of MIF -173G/C gene may be a susceptible gene to immune-related diseases in Chinese Han people.
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Objective To investigate the presence and significance of Th9 cells and the related transcription factor ( PU.1 ) and cytokine ( IL-9 ) in peripheral blood of patents with hashimoto thyroiditis ( HT) .Methods Thirty patients with HT and thirty age/gender matched healthy subjects were recruited in this study.The peripheral blood and serum samples were collected from each subject.The percentages of Th9 cells and the transcriptional levels of PU.1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMCs) were meas-ured by flow cytometry analysis and real-time RT-PCR.The concentrations of IL-9, the functions of thyroid and the titers of thyroid-specific autoantibodies ( TPOAb and TgAb) in serum samples were detected by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ) and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay analysis ( ECLIA) .Results Compared with healthy subjects, the percentages of Th9 cells and the expression of PU.1 at mRNA level in PBMCs and the concentrations of IL-9 in serum samples were all significantly in-creased in patients with HT [(1.49±0.68)%vs (0.87±0.24)%], 4.91±2.14 vs 1.66±0.52, (26.90± 7.74) pg/ml vs (16.71±5.87) pg/ml, all P<0.01).Serum concentrations of IL-9 were positively correla-ted with the percentages of Th9 cells (r=0.419, P=0.021).Moreover, the percentages of Th9 cells were positively correlated with the titers of TPOAb and TgAb in serum samples (r=0.394, P=0.032;r=0.457, P=0.011) of patients with HT.Conclusion The levels of Th9 cells and the related cytokine IL-9 were in-creased in the peripheral blood of patients with HT.A positive correlation was found between the percentage of Th9 cells and the titers of thyroid-specific autoantibodies.This study indicated that Th9 cells might be in-volved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune damage in thyroid.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in the number and distribution of myoepithelial cells during atrophy of the rat parotid gland.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Atrophy of the right parotid was induced by ligating the right stensen duct of rats, histological changes of parotid glands were examined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining during each step of glandular atrophy at the time of 0 (control), 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 30, 60, 100, and 150 days after ligation. Immunohistochemical labelling was performed to study the changes in number and distribution of myoepithelial cells during atrophy of the rat parotid gland.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Histological analysis showed disappearance of the acini at 5 d and gradual decrease and fibrosis of the glandular lobules accompanied by the occurrence of duct-like structures. Quantitative analysis of myoepithelial cells showed significant increase in number up to day 5 after ligation, then followed by gradual increases at a low level, at last it was followed by a rapid decrease after the total number reached the peak in 100 days. In addition, the acini and intercalated ducts were covered by myoepithelial cells ranged from the shape of spindle to stellate during the early phase of atrophy, while spindle-shaped myoepithelial cells were located at the periphery of duct-like structures in the later phase of atrophy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Myoepithelial cells proliferated rapidly up to day 5 after ligation, then followed by gradual increase at a low level, at last it was followed by a rapid decrease after the total number reached the peak in 100 days.</p>