Effect of Elevated Concentrations of Antibodies on the Immune Response in Patients with Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Abstract

A study is performed of the effect elevated concentrations of antibodies have on the immune response in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) living in Arkhangelsk. Results from immunological examinations of 108 individuals with AIT are presented. The immunological study included examining hemograms, the contents of phenotypes of lymphocytes, cytokines, immunoglobulins, and antibodies of thyroid peroxidase (TPO), double-stranded DNA, and nucleoproteins. It was estanlished that a rise in the concentration of antibodies (AB) to TPO, ds-DNA, to RNP in patients with AIT is associated with elevated contents of mature T lymphocytes (CD3+), cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8+), cells labeled for programmed cell death (CD95+), and a drop in concentrations of IL-10. An increase in the concentration of cytotoxic lymphocytes and cells labeled for apoptosis and a simultaneous drop in the concentration of regulatory IL-10 is not beneficial in terms of prognostic value for the accumulation of autoantigens and autoantibodies.