Human multidrug resistance-1 gene expression levels in graves-basedow disease

Multidrug resistance 1 gene is responsible for the resistance of a large variety of drugs in human cells. We tried to evaluate this in the present study in thyroid stimulant hormone receptor antibody positive subjects.

In study enrolled 23 female and 10 male subjects. Hyperthyroid subjects were treated with PTU and remission was assured between 6-12 months. Blood samples were collected before the start of this treatment. Permission for this study was taken from the patients and the local ethical committee.

Serum F-T3, F-T4 levels in Graves subjects were markedly high, whereas TSH levels were markedly low than normal range. We also found that with increased age of the Graves' subjects, MDR-1 gene expression decreased. There was also a direct correlation between blood MDR-1 gene expression and TSH-R Ab levels in patients with Graves's disease. We observed that the duration of being euthyroid was lengthened with the elevation of MDR-1 gene expression. There was a direct correlation between blood MDR-1 gene expression levels and ultrasonografic size of thyroid gland.

As a result, raised blood MDR-1 gene expression levels in patients with Graves-Basedow disease may be associated with the activity of the disease and the resistance to its treatment. The more blood MDR-1 expression increases the more the duration of being euthyroid increases.