Preferential use of T-cell receptor V genes in human autoimmune thyroid disease

We review here our analyses of hTcR V gene activity within the thyroid glands of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease. Our data, based on thyroid aspiration specimens, indicate that early in the onset of Graves' disease there is a marked restriction in both hTcR V alpha and V beta gene families utilized by intrathyroidal T-cells. Later, however, and as seen in surgical thyroid specimens from patients with long term disease, there appears to be a loss of V beta restriction for unclear reasons. In contrast, patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis are usually diagnosed later in the natural history of the disease and appear to show much less hTcR V gene family restriction. The mechanisms driving the use of few and many hTcR V genes within the thyroid gland are likely to be complex and may reveal important insights into disease pathogenesis.