BLOOD AND THYROID-INFILTRATING LYMPHOCYTE SUBCLASSES IN JUVENILE AUTO-IMMUNE THYROIDITIS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 30  (2) , 193-199
Abstract
The distribution of T [thymus derived] and B [bone marrow derived] lymphocytes in the blood and in the thyroid lymphocytic infiltrates (obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy) was studied in 16 patients with juvenile autoimmune thyroiditis (JAIT). The same cell populations were also tested for cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to thyroid antigen in the leukocyte migration test (LMT). The relative and absolute numbers of blood T lymphocytes were normal (71-76%), as were the numbers of blood B lymphocytes (19%). The thyroid infiltrate contained 48% B lymphocytes. Only 40-44% of the infiltrating lymphocytes were T cells. Half of the JAIT patients showed a positive CMI to thyroid antigen with blood leukocytes. When thyroid-infiltrating lymphocytes of these patients were tested in the LMT, they were negative. T cell-dominated lymphocytic infiltrates or the accumulation of specifically sensitized T lymphocytes within the thyroid gland in autoimmune thyroiditis were not demonstrable.