RESUMEN
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.