Class II HLA-DR antigens on non-autoimmune human thyroid cells stimulate autologous T cells with high suppressor...

Human autoimmune thyroid cells "spontaneously" express MHC-class II antigens. These antigens have been assumed to trigger thyroid-specific helper T cell clones, leading in turn to the expansion of thyroid autoantibody-secreting B cells. Thyroid cells derived from non-autoimmune subjects do not express MHC-class antigens, but these can be readily induced with gamma-interferon. We have addressed the issue of whether it is sufficient for normal thyroid cells to bear class II antigens in order to trigger autologous T cells. We found that non-autoimmune thyrocytes expressing DR antigens fail to stimulate autologous resting T cells. However, proliferative activity and interleukin-2 secretion were observed when fresh T cells were first triggered by autologous non-T cells and then incubated with thyrocytes. More CD8 than CD4 cells proliferated in the T:thyrocyte cultures, but CD4 cells were necessary for the proliferation and interleukin-2 secretion. Addition of antibodies to thyroglobulin or to DR antigens inhibited T cell proliferation and interleukin-2 secretion, thus pointing to T cell recognition of both thyroid-specific and DR antigens. Evaluation of the function of the thyroid stimulated T cells revealed very potent suppressor but negligible helper and cytotoxic activities. It would seem, therefore, that DR-restricted T cell activation by autologous antigen on non-autoimmune thyroid cells does occur, but since it results in enhanced suppression, its nature seems protective, thus leading to maintenance of immunological self-tolerance.