IL-4及IL-6在桥本甲状腺炎中的表达及意义

Expression and its clinical significance of IL-4 and IL-6 in Hashimoto's thyroiditis

目的检测桥本甲状腺炎(HT)患者血清及病变甲状腺组织中细胞因子的水平及蛋白表达,探讨细胞因子在HT发生、发展中的作用。方法应用抗体芯片法检测15例HT、13例正常人血清中10种细胞因子浓度水平,包括IL-2、IL-4、IL-5、IL-6、IL-8、IL-10、IL-13、GM-CSF、IFN-γ、TNF-α;应用ELISA法检测5例HT、5例正常人血清中Th1细胞因子TNF-α、IFN-γ,Th2细胞因子IL-4、IL-6浓度水平;用免疫组织化学(IHC)法研究20例HT、18例正常甲状腺组织中Th1细胞因子TNF-α、IFN-γ和Th2细胞因子IL-4、IL-6的表达及其受体的表达情况。结果抗体芯片法发现,HT组血清中IL-2、IL-5、IL-6、IL-8、IL-10、IL-13、GM-CSF、IFN-γ、TNF-α浓度水平比对照组显著升高(均P <0. 05); ELISA法结果显示,HT组血清中IL-4、IL-6浓度水平比对照组均显著升高(均P <0. 05); IHC结果示HT组病变甲状腺组织中Th2细胞因子IL-4、IL-6及其受体表达均显著增高(均P <0. 05),细胞因子蛋白主要表达于HT病变甲状腺上皮细胞内,部分表达于浸润的淋巴细胞。结论 Th2细胞因子IL-4、IL-6及其受体在HT患者血清及病变甲状腺组织中水平及表达均增高,提示Th2细胞因子IL-4、IL-6可能在HT发生、发展中起着重要作用。

Objective To explore the role of cytokines in the development and progression of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis(HT)by detecting the levels of cytokines and protein in serum and pathological thyroid tissues of patients with HT.Methods The antibody chip method was used to detect the concentrations of10cytokines in serum of 15 HT patients and13normal controls,including IL-2,IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-13,GM-CSF,IFN-γ,TNF-α.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the concentrations of Th1cytokines TNF-α,IFN-γand Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-6 in serum of5HT patients and5normal controls.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)was used to study the expression of TNF-α,IFN-γ,IL-4,IL-6and their receptor in 20 HT tissues and18 normal thyroid tissues.Results The levels of IL-2,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-13,GM-CSF,IFN-γand TNF-αin the serum by antibody chip method were significantly higher in HT group than in control group(all P<0.05),and the other seven cytokines showed no statistically significant difference between two groups.The results of ELISA showed that the levels of IL-4and IL-6in the serum were significantly higher in HT group than in control group(all P<0.05).The IHC results showed that the expression of Th2cytokines IL-4,IL-6and their receptors in the thyroid tissues were significantly increased in HT group(all P<0.05).Cytokine proteins were mainly expressed in the thyroid epithelial cells of HT lesions and partially expressed in the infiltrated lymphocytes.Conclusion The levels of Th2 cytokines IL-4,IL-6and their receptors are increased in serum and pathological thyroid tissues of HT patients,suggesting that Th2 cytokines IL-4and IL-6may play important roles in the development and progression of HT.