Graves病患者治疗前,后血清甲状腺激素抗体和TSH结合抑制免疫？…

本文研究了Ｇｒａｖｅｓ病（ＧＤ）患者在抗甲状腺药物（ＡＴＤ）治疗前、后血清甲状腺刺激抗体（ＴＳＡｂ）和ＴＳＨ结合抑制免疫球蛋白（ＴＢＩＩ）的变化，发现治疗前ＴＳＡｂ和ＴＢＩＩ的检出率分别为９１．７％和７９．２％，治疗后两抗体的活性及阳笥率均显著下降，表明抗甲状腺药可改善ＧＤ患者的免疫异常。ＴＳＡｂ和ＴＢＩＩ活性不相关，提示ＴＳＨ受体抗体（ＴＲＡｂ）具有异质性。ＴＳＡｂ和ＴＢＩＩ活性与血清甲状腺激素     

Graves病患者甲状腺和外周静脉血中甲状腺特异性抗体的对比研究

本文对比研究１１例Ｇｒａｖｅｓ病（ＧＤ）和９例非ＧＤ患者甲状腺静脉血（ＴＶＢ）和外周静脉血（ＰＶＢ）中甲状腺刺激抗体（ＴＳＡｂ）、甲状腺球蛋白抗体（ＴＧＡｂ）和甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体（ＴＰＯＡｂ）的活性和Ｔ３、Ｔ４浓度。结果显示：（１）抗体阳性的ＧＤ患者，其ＴＶＢ中ＴＳＡｂ、ＴＧＡｂ和ＴＰＯＡｂ水平均显著高于ＰＶＥ的，ＰＶＢ和ＴＶＢ的ＴＳＡｂ活性呈显著正相关，这提示甲状腺本身是甲状腺特异性抗体产生的主要部位；（２）ＧＤ组和非ＧＤ组ＴＶＢ和ＰＶＢ的血清Ｔ３、Ｔ４不形成浓度梯度；（３）ＴＳＡｂ、ＴＧＡｂ和ＴＰＯＡｂ活性及其在ＴＶＢ和ＰＶＢ之间的活性梯度，与ＴＶＢ和ＰＶＢ中Ｔ３、Ｔ４浓度均无相关关系。     

血清抗甲状腺球蛋白抗体和抗甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体检测在甲状腺疾病诊断及甲亢预后判断中的价值

采用放免法检测甲状豚疾病患者抗甲状腺球蛋白抗体（ＴＧＡｂ）和抗甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体（ＴＰＯＡｂ）、并对部分Ｇｒａｖｅｓ病患者停药后随诊一年的结果进行分析。结果显示：（１）自身免疫性甲状腺疾病患者ＴＧＡｂ和ＴＰＯＡｂ活性及阳性率明显高于非ＡＩＴＤ，尤以桥本甲状腺炎为然。（２）ＧＤ治疗前及停药时ＴＧＡｂ和ＴＰＯＡｂ均阴性者与均阳性者停药一年内的复发率分别为０．５８３和０．２３１。（３）ＴＧＡｂ和ＴＰＯＡｂ均阴性，而停药时甲状腺刺激抗体（ＴＳＡｂ）阳性者，停药时ＧＤ复发的机率最大（０．９０９），提示ＴＧＡｂ和ＴＰＯＡｂ检测在ＡＩＴＤ诊断，鉴别诊断以及ＧＤ预后判断中具有重要的临床意义。     

血清抗甲状腺球蛋白抗体和抗甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体检测在？…

采用放免法检测甲状腺疾病患者抗甲状腺球蛋白抗体（ＨＴＧＡｂ）和抗甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体（ＴＰＯＡｂ），并对部分Ｇｒａｖｅｓ病患者焦药后随诊一年的结果进行分析。结果显示：（１）自身免疫性甲状腺疾病患者ＴＧＡｂ和ＴＰＯＡｂ活性及阳性率及明显高于ＡＩＴＤ，尤以桥本甲状腺炎为然。（２）ＧＤ治疗前及停药时ＴＧＡｂＴ和ＴＧＡｂ和ＴＰＯＡｂ均阴性者与均阳性者停药一年内的复发率分别为０．５８３和０．２３１。（３）Ｔ     

冷冻保存人甲状腺细胞的活力,功能和临床应用

本文研究冷冻保存不同时间甲状腺细胞的活力、功能及其在甲状腺刺激抗体（ＴＳＡｂ）检测中的应用。结果表明：冻存３、６和１２个月的正常或甲亢甲状腺细胞具有良好的活力，各冷冻时相的细胞对ＴＳＨ刺激生成ｃＡＭＰ的反应性无明显差异，且与未冷冻细胞的反应性相似。以冻存甲亢甲状腺细胞测定血清ＴＳＡｂ．在Ｇｒａｖｅｓ病（ＧＤ）未治组的检出率为０．９１３，而甲状腺腺瘤（甲瘤）组与对照组ＴＳＡｂ均为阴性。这提示冻存一年内的人甲状腺细胞仍保持较好的活性与功能，可以作为甲状腺功能和甲状腺疾病基础与临床研究的材料。     

联合应用抗甲状腺药物和甲状腺激素治疗Graves病的效果评价

本文研究抗甲状腺药物（ＡＴＤ）单独或与甲状腺激素联合应用，对Ｇｒａｖｅｓ病（ＧＤ）病情演变和转归的作用。联合用药组血清甲状腺刺激抗体（ＴＳＡｂ）下降的幅度明显大于单独应用ＡＴＤ组，其血清ＴＳＨ水平、药物性甲减的发病率以及停药后甲亢的复发率均显著低于单独用药组。提示ＡＴＤ与甲状腺制剂联合应用对ＧＤ具有更好的治疗效果。     

多抗F（ab＇）_2－ELISA测定人血清抗TG－Ab_2及意义

为了克服单抗测定甲状腺球蛋白独特型抗体（抗ＴＧ－Ａｂ＿２）的局限性，便于常规检测，我们建立了兔抗ＴＧ多克隆抗体的Ｆ（ａｂ＇）＿２－ＥＬＩＳＡ测定人血清中的抗ＴＧ－Ａｂ＿２．结果其抗ＴＧ－Ａｂ＿２阳性率：甲亢（Ｇｒａｖｅ＇３）为９．９％（７／７１），桥本氏甲状腺炎为４４．４％（４／９），甲状腺瘤为１６．７％（３／１８），ＳＬＥ为９．５％（４／４２），类风湿性关节炎为０％（０／３２），正常人为０％（０／３５）。     

自身免疫病患者抗精浆免疫抑制物抗体的测定

用ＥＬＩＳＡ法测定血清中抗精浆免疫抑制物抗体（ＳＰＩＭ－Ａｂ），发现系统性红斑狼疮、类风湿性关节炎、混合性结缔组织病、重症肌无力和甲状腺疾病患者血清ＳＰＩＭ－Ａｂ水平与检出率均显著高于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０１）；抗核抗体、抗ｄｓ－ＤＮＡ抗体、抗Ｓｍ、抗ＲＮＰ抗体和类风湿因子与ＳＰＩＭ－Ａｂ无相关性，而抗甲状腺球蛋白抗体（Ａ－ＴＧ）和抗甲状腺微粒体抗体（Ａ－ＴＭ）阳性患者ＳＰＩＭ－Ａｂ水平均显著高于Ａ－ＴＧ、Ａ－ＴＭ阴性者（Ｐ＜０．０１）。     

同种动物间TSH抗独特型抗体制备及和AITD关系

根据自身免疫性甲状腺疾病（Ａｕｔｏｉｍｍｕｎｏｔｈｙｒｏｉｄｄｉｓｅａｓｅ，ＡＩＴＤ）发病机制新学说：独特型－抗独特型免疫网络学说，用兔抗人ＴＳＨ抗体在同种家兔中制备了ＴＳＨ抗独特型抗体（ＴＳＨＡｂ＿２），并从免疫学、生物学功能方面进行了鉴定，同时用豚鼠脂肪中ＴＳＨ受体纯化了ＴＳＨＡｂ＿２并检测了兔血清Ｔ＿４、ＴｍＡｂ的值，发现免疫后两者均明显升高（Ｐ＜０．０１）．本实验支持ＡＩＴＤ中独特型－抗独特型免疫网络学说。     

人甲状腺细胞的培养和功能研究及其应用

本文探讨获得正常和甲亢甲状腺细胞的方法及其培养条件，研究其对ＴＳＨ和甲状腺刺激抗体（ＴＳＡｂ）的反应性，分析两种甲状腺细胞在甲状腺特异性抗体测定中的临床价值。结果表明：１．正常和甲亢两种甲状腺组织经胰酶和胶原酶消化６０～９０分钟，即可获得大量活力良好的人甲状腺细胞；２．甲状腺细胞在以Ｅａｇｌｅ营养液为基础的培养条件下，随每孔细胞数的增多，对ＴＳＨ和ＴＳＡｂ刺激生成ｃＡＭＰ的量亦增加，并且在０～９６小时的培养时间里，甲状腺细胞ｃＡＭＰ的释放值递增；３．以正常或甲亢甲状腺细胞作为靶细胞，来检测病人血清ＴＳＡｂ和甲状腺刺激阻断抗体（ＴＳＢＡｂ），均具有较好的灵敏度和特异性。     

Prognostic value of thyroid stimulating antibodies and TSH-binding inhibiting immunoglobulins in the follow-up of Graves' disease

Summary The prognostic value of the determinations of autoantibodies in Graves' disease is still questionable. So far, the role of different assay procedures used has not been intensively investigated. We simultaneously applied two different techniques, a radioreceptor assay and a T3 releasing in vitro assay, in the follow-up of patients with Graves' disease to directly compare the course of the antibody activities determined by these assays and to find out a prognostic significance of the composition of the antibody spectrum present. The initial activities of thyroid stimulating antibodies (TSAb) and TSH-binding inhibiting immunoglobulins (TBII) were not significantly correlated in patients before treatment. During a 12-month antithyroid medication antibody titres showed a concordant course in the majority of patients. In 6 of 25 patients, however, a discordant behaviour was clearly documented including dose-response curves. At the end of treatment, the patients could be divided into three groups: group I included 5 patients positive for both TSAb and TBII, group II 6 patients positive for TBII and negative for TSAb and group III 14 patients negative for both of them. During the following survey of 18 months all patients of group I, 2 patients of group II and 6 patients of group III experienced a relapse of hyperthyroidism. In conclusion, TSAb and TBII activities dissociate in some patients during antithyroid drug therapy. For the individual patient, the disappearance of both TSAb and TBII was no certain indicator for a longstanding remission of Graves' hyperthyroidism. The persistence of TSAb seems to be more reliably associated with persisting or rapidly relapsing disease than the persistence of TBII.Abbreviations cAMP Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate - GD Graves' disease - T3 Triiodothyronine - T4 Tetraiodothyronine - TBII TSH-binding inhibiting immunoglobulins - TRH TSH releasing hormone - TSAb Thyroid stimulating antibodies - TSH Thyroid stimulating hormone     

Thyroid-stimulating antibodies in patients with long-term remission of Graves' hyperthyroidism

Summary The persistence of TSH receptor antibodies in Graves' disease despite the remission of hyperthyroidism has been described. Our study was designed to evaluate whether this extends to functionally active stimulators of the thyroid, since the occurrence of thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAb) in a euthyroid patient could well have important implications on our understanding of the pathogenetic role of such autoantibodies. Forty-four patients with a previous history of Graves' hyperthyroidism were reexamined after having been in long-lasting remission for 3 to 35 years (mean 8 years). Of the patients 16 had been treated by radioiodine, 17 by surgery, and 11 exclusively by antithyroid drugs. The determination of TSAb was based on T3 release from thyroid tissue in vitro to document the final response to these immunoglobulins. TSH-binding inhibiting immunoglobulins (TBII) were evaluated by a radioreceptor assay.TSAb were highly elevated in three of the 44 patients. These three patients showed a normal TSH response to i.v. TRH, suffered from endocrine ophthalmopathy, and had been treated by radioiodine for hyperthyroidism. TBII were found positive in seven patients including the three patients mentioned. The majority of patients positive for TSAb or TBII had been treated by radioiodine and none exclusively by antithyroid drugs.In conclusion, not only TBII but also T3 release-stimulating antibodies may occur in a minority of patients with long-term remission of Graves' hyperthyroidism. However, an absence of hyperthyroidism in these patients despite the presence of such thyroid stimulators seems to be only possible in association with a lack of functional responsiveness of the target organ due to previous administration of destructive therapies. Moreover, a major role of TBII in the absence of TSAb representing stimulatory inactive autoantibodies to the maintenance of remission was not apparent.Abbreviations cAMP cyclic adenosine monophosphate - T3 triiodothyronine - T4 tetraiodothyronine - TBII TSH-binding inhibiting immunoglobulins - TRH TSH-releasing hormone - TSAb thyroid-stimulating antibodies - TSH thyroidstimulating hormone     

Un nouveau dosage des anticorps anti-récepteur de la TSH : le TRAK humain. Intérêt diagnostique et pronostique dans la maladie de Basedow

Hyperthyroidism in Gravesˈdisease is attributable to the presence of TSH-receptor antibodies : thyroid stimulating antibodies (TSAb) and TSH binding inhibiting immunoglobulins (TBII). A new assay for TBII using a recombinant human receptor is now commercially available (Dynotest TRAK human, Brahms). We have evaluated its analytical and clinical performances in the diagnostic and in the follow-up of Gravesˈdisease. We have also compared them to those obtained for porcine TRAK (TRAK assay) and for TSAb measured on cellular cultures. We studied here 154 patients with Gravesˈdisease before and after treatment with antithyroid drugs (ATD). The performances of TBII assay with human TRAK were higher than those obtained for porcine TRAK and sometimes for TSAb. Thus TBII shoud be now measured with this commercially kit. Moreover, this new assay can advantageously replace TSAb measurement in the diagnosis and in the follow-up of Gravesˈpatients treated with ATD.     

Antibodies to TSH-receptor in thyroid autoimmune disease interact with monoclonal antibodies whose epitopes are broadly distributed on the receptor

The hyperthyroidism of Graves' disease (GD) is caused by TSH-receptor (TSH-R) stimulating autoantibodies (TSAb), leading to overproduction of thyroid hormones. We present evidence for TSAb interaction with three distinct regions of the TSH-R, one in immediate vicinity of the carboxy terminal serpentine. Three murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs 28.1, A9 and 31.7) directed to amino acids 36-40, 147-228 and 382-415 were labelled and tested for their binding to human recombinant TSH-R on solid phase. All MoAbs bound to TSH-R with a K(d) of 8-12 nm and showed no competition among themselves. We tested 114 sera from euthyroid controls, 118 TBII positive sera from patients with GD (containing TSAb confirmed by bioassays), 16 TBII positive sera from patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AIT), who were hypothyroid and had TSH blocking antibodies (TBAb), and 20 patients with AIT, who were hypothyroid but negative for all TRAb. Mid-regional MoAb A9 tracer achieved the highest sensitivity in the GD group (72.0%), whereas C-terminal MoAb 31.7 found most sera positive in the AIT group (87.5%). Surprisingly, the N-terminal MoAb 28.1 had the lowest sensitivity in the GD (10.4%) and AIT group (43.8%). Using a mixture of all three tracer MoAbs did not increase the sensitivity in the GD or AIT group, compared to the best single MoAb alone. Median inhibition of MoAb A9 was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than inhibition of MoAbs 28.1 or 31.7 in the group of GD patients but not in other groups. Almost all patient sera with positive reactivity in the MoAb tracer assays had TBII values in the higher range. However, there were many highly TBII positive sera, which did not show a displacement of the MoAb tracers. We conclude that, contrary to some reports, the binding of TSAb and TBAb to the TSH-R is not restricted to distinct and distant epitopes. The middle part of the TSH-R seems to be more relevant for TSAb binding than the N-terminal part, while a proportion of TSAb autoantibodies also binds to a C-terminal epitope of the TSH-R. The method described here is a TSH independent competitive assay for the detection of TSH-R autoantibodies.     

Humoral Autoimmune Manifestation in Subacute Thyroiditis

To study the autoimmune manifestations in subacute thyroiditis (SAT), the patterns of thyroid antibodies, thyroglobulin and circulating immune complexes were investigated in 10 patients during the course of the disease. Eight patients were thyrotoxic at diagnosis, and became euthyroid during recovery with a median observation of 8 months (4-30 months). Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins were measured as TSH binding inhibiting immunoglobulins (TBII) and as thyroid stimulating antibodies (TSAb). TBII were present in all patients at least once during the observation period and remained detectable in six patients after recovery. TSAb were detected in three patients without relation to the hyperthyroid state. Thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) were present in four patients and persisted in three, while microsomal antibodies (MAb) were negative. Thyroglobulin (Tg) in the TgAb negative patients (n = 6) was high at diagnosis (median 229 micrograms/l, range 55-375) and fell rapidly during the course of SAT. Circulating immune complexes (CIC), which were found in all patients, reached maximal levels shortly after the onset of the disease and persisted after recovery. No correlation could be demonstrated between the different thyroid antibodies, and there was no clear relation between the levels of CIC and presence of the autoantibodies. However, the changes in CIC paralleled the changes in TBII, and it is suggested that immune complex formation is a major feature of the regulatory mechanisms controlling the immune responses in SAT.     

Prevalence and clinical relevance of thyroid stimulating hormone receptor‐blocking antibodies in autoimmune thyroid disease

The prevalence and clinical relevance of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TSHR) blocking antibodies (TBAb) in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) was investigated. Serum TBAb were measured with a reporter gene bioassay using Chinese hamster ovary cells. Blocking activity was defined as percentage inhibition of luciferase expression relative to induction with bovine TSH alone (cut‐off 40% inhibition). All samples were measured for TSHR stimulatory antibody (TSAb) and TSHR binding inhibiting immunoglobulins (TBII). A total of 1079 unselected, consecutive patients with AITD and 302 healthy controls were included. All unselected controls were negative for TBAb and TSAb. In contrast, the prevalence of TBAb‐positive patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease was 67 of 722 (9·3%) and 15 of 357 (4·2%). Of the 82 TBAb‐positive patients, thirty‐nine (48%), 33 (40%) and 10 (12%) were hypothyroid, euthyroid and hyperthyroid, respectively. Ten patients were both TBAb‐ and TSAb‐positive (four hypothyroid, two euthyroid and four hyperthyroid). Thyroid‐associated orbitopathy was present in four of 82 (4·9%) TBAb‐positive patients, with dual TSHR antibody positivity being observed in three. TBAb correlated positively with TBII (r = 0·67, P < 0·001) and negatively with TSAb (r = –0·86, P < 0·05). The percentage of TBII‐positive patients was higher the higher the level of inhibition in the TBAb assay. Of the TBAb‐positive samples with  > 70% inhibition, 87% were TBII‐positive. Functional TSHR antibodies impact thyroid status. TBAb determination is helpful in the evaluation and management of patients with AITD. The TBAb assay is a relevant and important tool to identify potentially reversible hypothyroidism.     

Changes in thyrotropin receptor antibody after subtotal thyroidectomy in Graves' disease: comparison with the degree of lymphocytic infiltration in the thyroid

To evaluate changes in TSH receptor antibody after surgery in Graves' disease and its relationship with the degree of lymphocytic infiltration, serial serum levels of TSH receptor antibody were measured before and after the subtotal thyroidectomy in 50 patients with Graves' disease. In 22 (44%) out of 50 patients, thyrotropin binding inhibitor immunoglobulin (TBII) levels gradually decreased and disappeared completely within 12 months after surgery (TBII disappearing group). Twenty-eight (56%) patients showed persistent TBII activity and their levels were not changed until 12 months after surgery (TBII persistent group). The changes of thyroid stimulating antibody (TSab) levels were very similar to those of TBII in both groups. The thyroidal lymphocytic infiltration was more prominent in the TBII disappearing group. The degree of the decrease of TBII levels after surgery correlated with the grade of thyroidal lymphocytic infiltration. There was no significant difference of TSH receptor antibody (both TBII and TSab) levels between the thyroid and peripheral venous blood. These data suggest that the persistence or disappearance of TSH receptor antibody after surgery may reflect the difference between patients in whom the thyroid is the major site of TSH receptor antibody and those in whom additional sites of TSH receptor antibody synthesis exist.     

Heterogeneity of thyrotropin binding inhibitor immunoglobulins in serum from untreated patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease.

We have previously established an assay for the simultaneous assessment of thyrotropin (TSH) binding inhibitor immunoglobulin (TBII) and thyroid stimulating autoantibody activities in cultured rat thyroid cells (FRTL-5 cell), and found a discrepancy in some patients with untreated Graves' disease between the activities of TBII measured in FRTL-5 cells (TBII-rc) and in solubilized thyroid membranes (TBII-pm). In three selected patients with untreated Graves' disease, the different dose-response relationship between TBII-rc and TBII-pm clearly indicated the heterogeneous populations of TBII-pm in patients' sera, with different binding affinities for TSH receptor in intact cells.     

Prediction of the course of Graves' disease after medical antithyroid treatment

The course of thyrotoxicosis in 33 patients with Graves' disease was evaluated clinically and biochemically (free thyroxine index, serum triiodothyronine, thyroid stimulating antibodies, (TSAb), thyroid stimulating hormone binding inhibiting immunoglobulins (TBII)). Relapse of the disease was found to be correlated to anamnestic information of thyrotoxicosis among first degree relatives (predictive value 90%) and to concomitantly raised levels of TSAb and TBII at the start of treatment (predictive value 71%). Mean duration of treatment of patients with long-lasting remission was 16.8 months. When comparing various information used to predict relapse of Graves' disease, anamnestic information of familial predisposition to thyrotoxicosis carries the highest predictive value.     

Inverse correlation between activated T cells and TSH receptor antibodies in Graves' disease

TSH receptor antibodies and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets have been measured in fourteen patients with untreated Graves' thyrotoxicosis. CD8 (suppressor) cells were reduced (p less than 0.01) and helper/suppressor cell ratio was increased in Graves' patients. Increased levels of 4F2 positive (activated) T cells were found in the patients compared to controls (p less than 0.001) and there was a negative correlation between 4F2 positive cells and TSH receptor antibodies (TBII). It may be possible, with multiple immunological markers, to identify different stages in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disease.