Changes of CD4+, CD8+ T cell proportions and cell surface programmed death-1 level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the changes of CD4+, CD8+T cell proportions and the level of cell surface programmed death-1 (PD-1) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO), and to explore their roles in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of TAO. Methods The clinical data of 21 TAO patients, 21 Graves disease (GD) patients without ophthalmopathy and 20 healthy volunteers were collected. The proportions of CD4+, CD8+T cells in PBMCs and cell surface PD-1 expressions were tested by flow cytometry and were compared between different groups; and their correlation with disease course, thyroid functions, thyroid associated antibodies and severity of TAO were analyzed. Results (1)The proportions of CD4+, CD8+T cells in PBMCs of TAO patients ([35.9±14.5]% and [22.2±8.4]%, respectively) and GD patients ([33.1±13.0]% and [18.6±9.2]%, respectively) were both significantly higher than those in the healthy volunteers ([17.4±7.4]% and [7.7±4.8]% respectively, both P0.05). Conclusion The aberrant proportions of CD4+, CD8+T cells in PBMCs and cell surface PD-1 expression may participate in the autoimmune process of TAO.