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The expression of microvesicles in the blood of patients with G raves' disease and its relationship to treatment
Author(s) -
Mobarrez Fariborz,
AbrahamNordling Mirna,
AguileraGatica Katherina,
Friberg Inger,
Antovic Aleksandra,
Pisetsky David S.,
Jörneskog Gun,
Wallen Håkan
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/cen.12872
Subject(s) - microvesicles , medicine , endocrinology , disease , chemistry , biology , microrna , gene , biochemistry
Summary Objective Graves' disease ( GD ) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of circulating autoantibodies against thyroid‐stimulating hormone ( TSH ) receptor. Despite extensive research, the pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. Immune responses associated with the disease may lead to cell activation/apoptosis and the release of microvesicles ( MV s) into the circulation. MV s can display biological activities which may aggravate GD further. We studied immune mechanisms in GD by investigating the numbers and phenotype of circulating MV s in patients before and after antithyroid therapy with thiamazole. Patients and measurements Samples were obtained from 15 patients with GD in the acute phase of hyperthyroidism and following 17–26 months treatment and 14 healthy controls. MV s from platelets, endothelial cells and monocytes exposing inflammation/activation markers (P‐selectin, CD 40 ligand, E‐selectin and HMGB 1) and MV s containing nuclear molecules were measured with flow cytometry. Results Patients had elevated baseline values of MV s ( P < 0·001 for all types of MV s), while the levels decreased during thiamazole treatment ( P < 0·05 for all types of MV s). The majority of MV populations remained, however, significantly higher in patients after treatment compared to levels in controls. Conclusions GD patients have elevated levels of MV s that carry molecules with potential biological activities. MV s are significantly reduced after antithyroid treatment with thiamazole but still higher compared to levels in healthy controls. Assessment of MV levels and pattern may therefore provide additional information on underlying immune disturbances not obtained by measurements of hormone levels alone.