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Updated: Oct 12, 2025
Generation of a Mouse Spontaneous Autoimmune Thyroiditis Model
Published on: March 17, 2023
The pathogenic role of IFN-α in thyroiditis mouse models
Chao-Wen Cheng1, Wen-Fang Fang2, Kam-Tsun Tang3
1Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Traditional Herbal Medicine Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Cell Physiology and Molecular Image Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) can trigger autoimmune thyroiditis in mice, even without affecting thyroid function. This suggests caution is needed when using IFN-α in patients with or at risk for autoimmune thyroid disease.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chronic hepatitis C is often treated with interferon-alpha (IFN-α).
- Autoimmune thyroid disease affects 20-40% of patients treated with IFN-α.
- The mechanisms by which IFN-α might trigger autoimmune thyroiditis are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of IFN-α on the development and regulation of autoimmune thyroiditis in animal models.
- To evaluate IFN-α's impact on thyroid function, autoantibody production, and immune cell infiltration.
Main Methods:
- Administered exogenous IFN-α to naive CBA mice and two autoimmune thyroiditis models (TG-induced and spontaneous).
- Measured thyroid function (free thyroxine), anti-thyroglobulin antibody (ATA) titers, and B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) levels.
- Analyzed transcriptome profiles using RNA sequencing.
Main Results:
- IFN-α reduced thyroxine but did not alter ATA or BAFF in the TG-induced model.
- Thyroiditis developed in IFN-α-treated mice without prior immunization, accompanied by CD3+ cell infiltration and elevated BAFF.
- IFN-α stimulated innate/adaptive immunity and inflammatory pathways post-TG immunization but not in naive mice or the spontaneous model.
Conclusions:
- IFN-α can initiate thyroid autoimmunity and modulate immune responses in established autoimmune thyroiditis.
- IFN-α administration warrants caution in clinical practice due to its potential to trigger thyroid autoimmunity.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise immunoregulatory mechanisms involved.
