[Suppression of development of autoimmune thyroiditis during prolonged stimulation of T-cellular immunity]

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the suppression of autoimmune thyroiditis in guinea-pigs by prolonged stimulation of T-cellular immunity with T-activin, a thymic hormone. The development of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) at early stages was shown to be characterized by deficiency of T-cells of helper and suppressor phenotypes, hypersecretion of thyroid hormones and insignificant development of a thyroid autoimmune process. With disease development indices of peripheral blood immunity of guinea-pigs were close to normal, and the frequency and degree of lymphoid infiltration of the gland were increased in parallel with the development of hypofunction of the organ. Immuno-correction of developing EAT with injections of T-activin according to our scheme resulted in a prolonged stimulation of T-cellular immunity, prevented sensitization of lymphocytes with thyroid antigens, increased secretion of the thymic hormones in parallel with a decrease in a degree of lymphoid-plasmacytic infiltration from thyroid tissues, indicating suppression of the disease.