Biomaterial Database

Serial analysis of the effects of methimazole therapy on circulating B cell subsets in Graves' disease. 1996

J J Corrales, and A Orfao, and A López, and J Ciudad, and M T Mories

Servicios de Endocrinología, Universidad de Salamanca, Spain.

The immunosuppressive effects of antithyroid drug therapy are well recognized; however, the cellular mechanisms underlying their action remain largely unknown. In the present paper we have prospectively analyzed the in vivo effects of methimazole treatment on a large number of circulating B cell subsets, involved in the effector phase of the immune response, in a group of 18 hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease (GD). The patients were sequentially studied before (day 0) and 7, 14, 30, 90 and 180 days after methimazole therapy. The results were compared with both a group of 19 age- and sex-matched healthy controls and a group of 20 untreated/euthyroid GD patients in long-term remission. The combination of flow cytometry and three colour immunofluorescence revealed a clear increase (P < 0.001) in the numbers of circulating total B cells (CD19+) due to a significant increase (P < 0.001) in the CD5+, FMC7+, CD5+/ FMC7+ and CD23+ B cell subsets in hyperthyroid GD patients with respect to both healthy individuals and to GD patients in long-term remission. The absolute numbers of all these B cell subsets analyzed before treatment, although abnormal, were not statistically different from those observed during the whole period of therapy. When comparing the percentages of these B cell subsets during treatment, significant changes (P < 0.001) were only observed in the proportion of CD5+, CD5+/FMC7+ and CD5- B cells at the end of the follow-up period with respect to those found both before and during the first month of therapy. Whereas CD5+ and CD5+/FMC7+ B cells decreased (P < 0.001) after 3 months of therapy, CD5- B cells showed a significant increase (P < 0.001) at the end of therapy. It is remarkable that the percentage of CD5+, CD5+/FMC7+, CD5- and CD23+ B cell subsets were abnormal during the whole period of treatment and that they never reached normal values. These results show that, in vivo, GD patients treated with methimazole exhibited an abnormal but rather stable pattern of B cell distribution, similar to that present in hyperthyroid untreated GD patients, except for the CD5+ and CD5- B cell populations. Our findings suggest that in vivo methimazole therapy would not directly have an important influence on circulating B cell subsets.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007453	Iodide Peroxidase	A hemeprotein that catalyzes the oxidation of the iodide radical to iodine with the subsequent iodination of many organic compounds, particularly proteins. EC 1.11.1.8.	Iodinase,Iodothyronine 5'-Deiodinase,Iodothyronine Deiodinase,Iodotyrosine Deiodase,Thyroid Peroxidase,Thyroxine 5'-Deiodinase,Thyroxine 5'-Monodeiodinase,5'-Deiodinase,Deiodinase,Iodotyrosine Deiodinase,Monodeiodinase,Reverse Triiodothyronine 5'-Deiodinase,T4-5'-Deiodinase,T4-Monodeiodinase,Tetraiodothyronine 5'-Deiodinase,Thyroxine Converting Enzyme,Triiodothyronine Deiodinase,5' Deiodinase,5'-Deiodinase, Iodothyronine,5'-Deiodinase, Reverse Triiodothyronine,5'-Deiodinase, Tetraiodothyronine,5'-Deiodinase, Thyroxine,5'-Monodeiodinase, Thyroxine,Deiodase, Iodotyrosine,Deiodinase, Iodothyronine,Deiodinase, Iodotyrosine,Deiodinase, Triiodothyronine,Enzyme, Thyroxine Converting,Iodothyronine 5' Deiodinase,Peroxidase, Iodide,Peroxidase, Thyroid,Reverse Triiodothyronine 5' Deiodinase,T4 5' Deiodinase,T4 Monodeiodinase,Tetraiodothyronine 5' Deiodinase,Thyroxine 5' Deiodinase,Thyroxine 5' Monodeiodinase,Triiodothyronine 5'-Deiodinase, Reverse
D008297	Male		Males
D008713	Methimazole	A thioureylene antithyroid agent that inhibits the formation of thyroid hormones by interfering with the incorporation of iodine into tyrosyl residues of thyroglobulin. This is done by interfering with the oxidation of iodide ion and iodotyrosyl groups through inhibition of the peroxidase enzyme.	Methymazol,Thiamazole,1-Methyl-2-mercaptoimidazole,Favistan,Mercasolyl,Mercazol,Mercazole,Mercazolyl,Merkazolil,Methizol,Methylmercaptoimidazole,Metisol,Metizol,Strumazol,Tapazole,Thiamazol Henning,Thiamazol Hexal,Thimazol,Thyrozol,Tiamazol,Tirodril,1 Methyl 2 mercaptoimidazole,Henning, Thiamazol,Hexal, Thiamazol
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011446	Prospective Studies	Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group.	Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D005260	Female		Females
D005434	Flow Cytometry	Technique using an instrument system for making, processing, and displaying one or more measurements on individual cells obtained from a cell suspension. Cells are usually stained with one or more fluorescent dyes specific to cell components of interest, e.g., DNA, and fluorescence of each cell is measured as it rapidly transverses the excitation beam (laser or mercury arc lamp). Fluorescence provides a quantitative measure of various biochemical and biophysical properties of the cell, as well as a basis for cell sorting. Other measurable optical parameters include light absorption and light scattering, the latter being applicable to the measurement of cell size, shape, density, granularity, and stain uptake.	Cytofluorometry, Flow,Cytometry, Flow,Flow Microfluorimetry,Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting,Microfluorometry, Flow,Cell Sorting, Fluorescence-Activated,Cell Sortings, Fluorescence-Activated,Cytofluorometries, Flow,Cytometries, Flow,Flow Cytofluorometries,Flow Cytofluorometry,Flow Cytometries,Flow Microfluorometries,Flow Microfluorometry,Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting,Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sortings,Microfluorimetry, Flow,Microfluorometries, Flow,Sorting, Fluorescence-Activated Cell,Sortings, Fluorescence-Activated Cell
D006111	Graves Disease	A common form of hyperthyroidism with a diffuse hyperplastic GOITER. It is an autoimmune disorder that produces antibodies against the THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE RECEPTOR. These autoantibodies activate the TSH receptor, thereby stimulating the THYROID GLAND and hypersecretion of THYROID HORMONES. These autoantibodies can also affect the eyes (GRAVES OPHTHALMOPATHY) and the skin (Graves dermopathy).	Basedow's Disease,Exophthalmic Goiter,Goiter, Exophthalmic,Graves' Disease,Basedow Disease,Hyperthyroidism, Autoimmune,Basedows Disease,Disease, Basedow,Disease, Basedow's,Disease, Graves,Disease, Graves',Exophthalmic Goiters,Goiters, Exophthalmic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults