T cell immune phenotyping in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis and its significance / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the phenotypes of T cell in patients with Hashimoto thyrioditis (HT) and to analyze its relationship with the impairment of follicles, so as to provide evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods: Totally 136 HT specimens were obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and were divided morphologically(L, P, O type). The serum parameters (TPOAb, TGAb, TSH) were tested, and 20 cases with nontoxic goiter were taken as control. Immunohistochemical assay was performed with 60 specimens and FCM (Flow cytometry) was used to study 23 specimens. The T cell infiltration and the distribution of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells were compared between all types of HT tissues. The correlationship between the atrophic degree of follicle with T lymphocytes infiltration and phenotype was analyzed. Results: It was found that L type (n=58) and P type (n=28) had more serious follicle atrophy than that of O type (n=20) (PT cells were 45%-60% for L type, 30%-50% for P type, and 18%-35% for O type. FCM results showed that the T cell marker ratio were for L type, CD3+ 47%-67%, CD4+ 22%-38%, CD8+ 17%-27%; for P type, CD3+ 34%-36%, CD4+ 16%-18%, CD8+ 11%-13%; for O type, CD3+ 33%-45%, CD4+ 16%-24%, CD8+ 12%-18%. In L type, the follicle atrophic degree was positively correlated to lymphocyte infiltration level (r=0.067); however, O type (r= -0. 29) and P type (r= -0.29) were both negative correlated to it.

Conclusion:

Phenotyping of T cells in FNAB specimens can directly reflect the changing degree of HT, which is helpful for clinical diagnosis and treatment.