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Updated: Oct 3, 2025

Generation of a Mouse Spontaneous Autoimmune Thyroiditis Model
Published on: March 17, 2023
Low levels of serum IL-39 are associated with autoimmune thyroid disease
Linjie Weng1,2, Guoqing Huang1,2, Luping Gong1,2
1The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Background:
Interleukin (IL)-39 is a novel member of IL-12 cytokine family, but its role in autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) is unclear. The aim of the present study was to determine serum levels of IL-39 in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' disease (GD) patients.
Methods:
A total of 48 patients with HT, 50 patients with GD, and 45 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited for this study. Levels of serum IL-39 were determined by ELISA.
Results:
Compared with HC group, levels of serum IL-39 in patients with HT (p < 0.05) and GD (p < 0.01) were drastically reduced. Among patients with HT, serum IL-39 levels had a positive correlation with white blood cell count (WBC) count and free triiodothyronine level. Among patients with GD, the levels of IL-39 in serum were positively correlated with WBC count and C-reactive protein levels.
Conclusions:
IL-39 may be a new potential predictor for patients with HT and GD.
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