FEATURES OF INTERLEUKIN-2 AND INTERLEUKIN-4 PRODUCTION AND RECEPTION IN AUTOIMMUNE THYROID DISORDERS

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of this study was to evaluate some immunopathogenic features of autoimmune thyropathies (autoimmune thyroiditis and Graves’ disease), in terms of IL-2 and IL-4 production and expression of specific surface receptors on blood lymphocytes. We have revealed some relationships and peculiarities of the immune state deviations in these clinical disorders. We evaluated interrelations between some indexes of IL-2 and IL-4 production/reception, and functional parameters of thyroid gland in the patients. Multi-directional effects of interleukin-2 upon thyroid function were revealed, e.g., reduced cell proliferation levels and decreased functional activity of thyrocytes in autoimmune Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, as well as stimulation of proliferation and hormone production by thyrocytes in Graves’ disease.

Keywords

• autoimmune thyroiditis
• graves disease
• il-2
• il-4
• lymphocytes