The proportional changes of B regulatory cells and suppressor T cells in peripheral blood of patients with Hashimotos' thyroiditis

Abstract

Objective To explore the proportional changes of regulatory B lymphocyte cells(Bregs)and suppressor T lymphocyte cell(Ts)in the peripheral blood of patients with Hashimotos' thyroiditis(HT). Method Sixty-one cases of HT and 38 healthy subjects with matched age and gender were recruited. Flow cytometry technology was used to detect the proportional changes of CD19+ CD24+ CD27+ B cells, CD19+ CD24hiCD38hiB cells, CD19+ IL-10+ B cells, and CD8+ CD28-T cells. Result Compared with control group, CD19+ CD24+ CD27+ B cells in HT group increased significantly(P<0.05). With the increase of thyroid peroxidase antibody, CD19+ CD24hiCD38hiB cells were decreased significantly. With the increase of antithyrogloblin antibody(TGAb), CD8+ CD28-T cells were decreased markedly(P<0.05). TT3 was positively related with CD19+ CD24hiCD38hiB cells while TT4 had a negative correlation with CD8+ CD28-T cells and positive correlation with CD19+ CD24+ CD27+ B cells. Logistic regression analysis showed that TGAb and FT4 were independent risk factors for decreased CD8+ CD28-T cells in lymphocyte percentage(P<0.05). TSH was an independent risk factor for the decreased proportion of CD19+ CD24hiCD38hiB cell. FT4 was the independent risk factors for increased CD19+ CD24+ CD27+ B cells(P<0.05). Conclusion The percentage of Ts cells in patients with HT was lowered, while the different phenotypic Bregs cells showed various changes. Thyroid autoantibodies and thyroid function were closely associated with the immunological changes in HT patients. (Chin J Endocrinol Metab, 2015, 31: 427-433) Key words: Hashimotos' thyroiditis; Regulatory B lymphocyte cells; Suppressor T lymphocyte cell