Study on Th17/Treg Cells and Cytokines in Hashimoto's Thyroiditis with Different Iodine Nutrition Status

Abstract

<i>Background</i>: The incidence of AITDs increased with the increase of iodine nutrient levels in the population. HT is one of the most common AITDs. The role of thyroid function stratification, antibody titer, Th17/Treg cells and related factors in the pathogenesis of HT under different iodine nutritional conditions is still unclear. <i>Objective</i>: To investigate the correlation between the thyroid function stratification, autoantibody titer and Th17 cells, Treg cells, cytokines and transcription factors in hashimoto thyroiditis patients with different iodine nutritional status. <i>Methods</i>: Thyroid hormone, autoantibody and urinary iodine levels were measured in 100 hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) patients and 60 healthy subjects by electrochemical immunoluminescence and iodine-catalyzed arseniummethod. Meanwhile, the proportion and ratio of Th17 cells and Tregs cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were determined by immunofluorescence labeling and flow cytometry. The qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of ROR-γt mRNA and Foxp3 mRNA. Serum IL-17 and TGF-β levels were detected by ELISA. <i>Results</i>: Th17 cell proportion, serum IL-17 and ROR-γt mRNA expression levels in PBMC of HT patients with different iodine nutritional status were all higher than those in the control group (<i>P</i><0.05), while Tregs cell proportion, serum TGF-β and Foxp3 mRNA level were all lower than those in the control group (<i>P</i><0.05). <i>Conclusions</i>: The thyroid function, autoantibodies, Th17/Tregs cell proportion, cytokines and transcription factors of HT patients with different iodine nutrition status were changed, hich were involved in the development and progression of HT.