Intrathyroidal HLA-DR expression and T lymphocyte phenotypes in Graves' thyrotoxicosis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and...

Thyroid surgical biopsies from 21 individuals were examined by a double immunoenzymatic technique with respect to HLA-DR expression and lymphocytic infiltration. HLA-DR positive thyrocytes were observed in two examined Hashimoto goitres and in nine of 11 specimens from patients with Graves' disease. HLA-DR positive thyrocytes were localized to areas harbouring infiltrating lymphocytes, whereas regions with no lymphocytes only rarely expressed HLA-DR antigens. In two specimens of nodular goitre HLA-DR positive thyrocytes were observed in the vicinity of lymphocytic infiltration. Tissues from another three nodular goitres, from one follicular adenoma and from two normal individuals contained no HLA-DR positive thyrocytes and no or only a few lymphocytes. The lymphocytic infiltrates were dominated by cells with the Leu 3a helper/inducer phenotype irrespective of underlying disease, although most pronounced in Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The results indicate that HLA-DR antigens is expressed on thyrocytes in thyroid disorder. The extent of expression correlated with lymphocytic infiltration, which suggests that the two findings are related and of importance for the development of thyroid autoimmunity.