lewis-x-antigen and Graves-Disease

Cellular activation and expression of certain adhesion molecules within vascular endothelium is a critical event in leucocyte recruitment and emigration. A wide array of different adhesion receptors has been identified to mediate the interaction between endothelial cells (EC) and leucocyte subpopulations. In this study, the tissue expression of E-selectin, P-selectin, CD31, and endoglin endothelial cell adhesion molecules was studied on thyroid tissue from patients with Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). We found an up-regulated expression of E-selectin in EC in GD and HT thyroids, specifically in those areas more severely inflamed, with no reactivity in control thyroids. P-selectin was basally expressed in postcapillary venules in control glands, with an increased expression in HT and GD glands. On the other hand, increased CD31 expression was found on perifollicular, small and large venule EC from GD and HT glands, that correlated with the severity of mononuclear infiltration. In addition, CD31 expression was observed in some intrathyroidal macrophages and T cells in close proximity to CD31+ EC. Furthermore, a markedly enhanced expression of endoglin, a transforming growth factor-beta binding protein, was mainly located on perifollicular EC and EC from small venules as well as in adjacent macrophages from GD and HT thyroid glands. This enhanced expression of E- and P-selectins, CD31 and endoglin by thyroid EC in GD and HT may reflect their ability to regulate leucocyte trafficking and activation.

Topics: Antigens, CD; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; Cell Adhesion Molecules; E-Selectin; Endoglin; Endothelium; Female; Graves Disease; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Lewis X Antigen; Male; P-Selectin; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; Receptors, Cell Surface; Thyroid Gland; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

Occurrence of monocytoid B-lymphocytes (MBL) in extranodal organs in various inflammatory diseases was examined. MBL were present in 5 (11.4%) of 44 patients with Graves' disease, 11 (36.7%) of 30 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 1 (8.3%) of 12 with lymphoid follicular hyperplasia (LFH) of stomach, 1 (10%) of 10 with cutaneous LFH, and 0 of 5 with LFH of lung. The MBL presented as irregularly shaped nodular collections of cells, directly surrounding secondary follicles. Immunohistochemistry revealed a B-cell nature of these cells which expressed the following antigens; CD3-, CD 15-, CD45RA+, CD45Ro-, CDw 75+, CD74+, Mx-PanB+, MB-1+, EMA-. There were no immunoglobulin light chain restriction among infiltrating lymphoid cells. MBL in 2 of 18 cases showed positive reaction for CD43. The patients with MBL were older than those without MBL in each organ site, though the difference was not statistically significant. These findings showed that the MBL could appear in nonlymphoid organs affected by long-standing inflammation. High frequency of the appearance of the MBL in Hashimoto's thyroiditis suggest that MBL proliferation correlates with an impaired immune status.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antigens, CD; Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; Autoimmune Diseases; B-Lymphocytes; CD3 Complex; Cell Movement; Female; Graves Disease; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; Humans; Hyperplasia; Immunohistochemistry; Incidence; Leukocyte Common Antigens; Leukosialin; Lewis X Antigen; Lung Diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Sialoglycoproteins; Skin Diseases; Stomach Diseases; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune