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Cytokine Profiles in Eye Muscle Tissue and Orbital Fat Tissue from Patients with Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy1
Eye muscle (EM) and retroorbital fat tissue are two major sites of involvement in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Lymphocytic infiltration in these tissues is a prominent histological feature of TAO. We have investigated the cytokine gene profiles in EM and orbital fat (OF) tissues from pat...
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Published in: | The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2000-03, Vol.85 (3), p.1194-1199 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Eye muscle (EM) and retroorbital fat tissue are two major sites of
involvement in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Lymphocytic
infiltration in these tissues is a prominent histological feature of
TAO. We have investigated the cytokine gene profiles in EM and orbital
fat (OF) tissues from patients with TAO. Total RNA was isolated from EM
tissue of 14 patients and from OF tissues of 29 patients with TAO.
Cytokine gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR using paired primers
for interferon γ (IFNγ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα),
interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, CD4, CD8, and
glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. IFNγ, TNFα, IL-1β, and
IL-6 messenger RNA (mRNA) were mainly detected in EM tissue, whereas
IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA were detected in only one patient. On the
other hand, in OF tissue, IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA were detected in 24% and
38% of the patients, respectively, and IFNγ, IL-1β, and IL-6 mRNA
were less often detected compared with EM tissue. The enlargement of EM
tissue as assessed by computed tomography correlated significantly with
TNFα mRNA expression in EM tissue. The orbital volume was positively
correlated with IL-6 mRNA expression and negatively correlated with
IL-4 mRNA and IL-10 mRNA expression in OF tissue. These results suggest
that T helper (Th) 1-like cytokines predominate in EM tissue in most
patients and that the predominant cytokine profile in OF tissue varies
from patient to patient. Both Th1-like and Th2-like immune responses
may play roles in the development of two components of ophthalmopathy. |
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ISSN: | 0021-972X 1945-7197 |
DOI: | 10.1210/jcem.85.3.6433 |