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Lack of circulating thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins in cats with hyperthyroidism
M E Peterson1, P Livingston, R S Brown
1Department of Medicine, Animal Medical Center, New York, New York.
Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
|November 1, 1987
Summary
This study investigated feline hyperthyroidism, finding it does not stem from thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIs). This suggests feline hyperthyroidism is not analogous to human Graves' disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
Background:
- Feline hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine disorder in older cats with an unknown cause.
- Pathological findings suggest a possible similarity to human Graves' disease, which involves thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if high circulating levels of TSIs cause feline hyperthyroidism.
- To investigate the etiological relationship between feline hyperthyroidism and human Graves' disease.
Main Methods:
- Measured intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentrations in rat thyroid cells (FRTL-5).
- Incubated FRTL-5 cells with immunoglobulin G (IgG) extracted from normal and hyperthyroid cat serum.
- Compared cAMP generation in response to cat IgG versus IgG from a human Graves' disease patient.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in cAMP concentrations was observed when FRTL-5 cells were incubated with IgG from normal versus hyperthyroid cats.
- IgG from a human Graves' disease patient induced significantly higher cAMP generation compared to normal human IgG or cat IgG.
- This indicates that TSIs are not the cause of feline hyperthyroidism.
Conclusions:
- Feline hyperthyroidism is not caused by high circulating concentrations of thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIs).
- The etiology of feline hyperthyroidism differs from that of human Graves' disease.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying causes of feline hyperthyroidism.