Relationship between the Th1/Th2 Cytokines Imbalance and Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the relationship between serum Th1/Th2 cytokines levels and autoantibodies against thyroid, and explore the role of Th1/Th2 cellular immunity imbalance in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases(AITD). Methods 21 patients with Graves'desease(GD), 18 cases with Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT), 17 cases with non-toxic nodular goiter(NTNG) and 20 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. The serum concentrations of their Th1 cytokines (IFN-?,IL-2) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4,IL-10) were assayed by ELISA. The serum levels of their thyrotropin receptor antibodies(TRAb), thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies(TPOAb) were measured by routine methods. The relationship between the serum Th1, Th2 cytokines levels and serum TRAb, TGAb, TPOAb levels were analyzed. Results The serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in patients with GD were significantly higher than those in patients with HT,NTNG and healthy subjects(P