Levels of cytokines and thyroid autoantibodies in Omani patients with Graves’ disease

Abstract

An altered balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroiditis. The aim of the present study is to assess the cytokine and autoantibody profiles in Omani patients with Graves’ disease (GD). Cytokines and autoantibodies including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α, interferon (IFN)γ, thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRA) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO) are measured in GD patients (n=59) before treatment (n=23) and after treatment (n=36) with ¹³¹I-labelled iodine, and compared with normal controls (n=20). Patients with GD showed comparable serum levels of IL-2 but significantly higher levels of IL-4, TNFα, IFNγ, TRA and TPO, compared with the normal controls. There was also a significant increase in serum levels of IL-4 and TNFα, and a decrease in TRA in the treated group, compared to the untreated group. IL-4, TNFα, IFNγ, TRA and TPO showed a high prevalence in Omani patients with GD. Thus, cytokines and autoantibodies may prove useful in the diagnosis of GD and in assessing prognosis.

Keywords:

• Autoantibodies
• Cytokines
• Graves disease
• Thyroid gland