Increase of Circulating CXCL9 and CXCL11 Associated with Euthyroid or Subclinically Hypothyroid Autoimmune Thyroiditis

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2011-06, Vol.96 (6), p.1859-1863
• Main Authors: Antonelli, Alessandro, Ferrari, Silvia Martina, Frascerra, Silvia, Di Domenicantonio, Andrea, Nicolini, Andrea, Ferrari, Paola, Ferrannini, Ele, Fallahi, Poupak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; Chemokine CXCL11 - blood; Chemokine CXCL9 - blood; Endocrinopathies; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Hypothyroidism - blood; Linear Models; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases. Target tissue resistance. Benign neoplasms; Patient Selection; Severity of Illness Index; Thyroid Hormones - blood; Thyroid. Thyroid axis (diseases); Thyroiditis, Autoimmune - blood; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vertebrates: endocrinology
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2010-2905

Circulating CXCL9 and CXCL11 are increased in patients with thyroiditis and hypothyroidism and are related to each other. Context: Recently, CXCL9 and CXCL11 have been shown to be involved in autoimmune thyroid disorders; however, no data are present about CXCL9 and CXCL11 circulating levels in thyroid autoimmunity. Objective: Our objective was to evaluate circulating CXCL9 and CXCL11 in autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). Design and Patients or Other Participants: Serum CXCL9 and CXCL11 have been measured in 141 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed AIT (AIT-p), 70 euthyroid controls, and 35 patients with nontoxic multinodular thyroid. The three groups were similar in gender distribution and age; among the AIT-p, 26% had subclinical hypothyroidism. Results: Serum CXCL9 and CXCL11 levels were significantly (P < 0.0001 for both) higher in AIT-p (143 ± 164 and 121 ± 63 pg/ml, respectively) than in controls (68 ± 37 and 65 ± 19 pg/ml, respectively) or patients with multinodular thyroid (87 ± 43 and 71 ± 20 pg/ml, respectively). Among AIT-p, CXCL9 and CXCL11 levels were significantly higher in patients older than 50 yr or those with a hypoechoic ultrasonographic pattern or with hypothyroidism. In a multiple linear regression model including age, thyroid volume, hypoechogenicity, hypervascularity, TSH, anti-thyroglobulin, and anti-thyroid peroxidase, only age and TSH were significantly (P < 0.05) related to serum CXCL9 or CXCL11 levels. In a multiple linear regression model of CXCL9 vs. age, TSH, and CXCL11, TSH (P = 0.032) and CXCL11 (P = 0.001) were significantly and independently related to CXCL9. Conclusions: We first show that circulating CXCL9 and CXCL11 are increased in patients with thyroiditis and hypothyroidism and are related to each other. These results underline the importance of a Th1 immune attack in the initiation of AIT.