DECREASE OF CONCANAVALIN-A ACTIVATED AND SHORT-LIVED SUPPRESSOR-T CELL-FUNCTION IN THYROTOXICOSIS

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 30  (3) , 143-147
Abstract
The function of short lived and concanavalin-A activated suppressor T [thymus derived] cells of peripheral blood was studied in patients with thyrotoxicosis and normal individuals. The activity of short lived and concanavalin-A [ConA] activated suppressor T cells apparently decreased in untreated patients. The function of ConA activated suppressor cells increased somewhat in the euthyroid stage induced by methimazole treatment but failed to reach the normal level. Both the short lived and ConA activated suppressor cell activity proved to be in inverse relationships to titers of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies and transformation indices to human thyroglobulin. These findings suggest a possible role of suppressor T cell function in the pathogenesis of Graves'' disease.