Peripheral immunophenotyping of AITD subjects reveals alterations in immune cells in pediatric vs adult-onset AITD
Zachary C. Stensland,
Brianne M. Coleman,
Marynette Rihanek,
Ryan M. Baxter,
Peter A. Gottlieb,
Elena W.Y. Hsieh,
Virginia D. Sarapura,
Kimber M. Simmons,
John C. Cambier,
Mia J. Smith
Affiliations
Zachary C. Stensland
Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Brianne M. Coleman
Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Marynette Rihanek
Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Ryan M. Baxter
Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Peter A. Gottlieb
Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Elena W.Y. Hsieh
Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Section of Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Virginia D. Sarapura
Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Kimber M. Simmons
Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
John C. Cambier
Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Mia J. Smith
Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Corresponding author
Summary: Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is caused by aberrant activation of the immune system allowing autoreactive B and T cells to target the thyroid gland leading to disease. Although AITD is more frequently diagnosed in adults, children are also affected but rarely studied. Here, we performed phenotypic and functional characterization of peripheral blood immune cells from pediatric and adult-onset AITD patients and age-matched controls using mass cytometry. Major findings indicate that unlike adult-onset AITD patients, pediatric AITD patients exhibit a decrease in anergic B cells (BND) and DN2 B cells and an increase in immature B cells compared to age-matched controls. These results indicate alterations in peripheral blood immune cells seen in pediatric-onset AITD could lead to rapid progression of disease. Hence, this study demonstrates diversity of AITD by showing differences in immune cell phenotypes and function based on age of onset, and may inform future therapies.
