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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
An Ex vivo Culture System to Study Thyroid Development
Published on: June 6, 2014
Cellular composition of subacute thyroiditis. an immunohistochemical study of six cases
Masaru Kojima1, Shigeo Nakamura, Tetsunari Oyama
1Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories, Gunma Cancer Center Hospital, Ohta, Japan. mkojima@gunma-cc.jp
Insights
Cellular immune responses, particularly cytotoxic T-cells and plasmacytoid monocytes, are key in subacute thyroiditis pathogenesis. These cells infiltrate thyroid follicles, leading to disruption and inflammation, without evidence of viral infection.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Subacute thyroiditis is an inflammatory thyroid condition.
- Its precise cellular composition and pathogenesis remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the cellular infiltrate and immune mechanisms involved in subacute thyroiditis.
Main Methods:
- Histological examination of thyroid tissue.
- Immunohistochemical staining for various cell markers (e.g., CD68, CD3, CD8, CD45RO, CD23, CAN.42).
- Detection of viral markers (HHV-8, EBER).
Main Results:
- Non-caseous granulomas composed of lymphocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, and giant cells were observed.
- Plasmacytoid monocytes were closely associated with granulomas.
- CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes and plasmacytoid monocytes infiltrated follicles, disrupting the basement membrane.
- No lymphoid follicles or viral markers were detected.
Conclusions:
- Cellular immune responses, involving cytotoxic T-cells and plasmacytoid monocytes, are central to subacute thyroiditis.
- Follicular damage and inflammation are driven by these immune cells.
- Viral infection is unlikely to be the primary cause in these cases.
Abstract:
To clarify the cellular composition of subacute thyroiditis, histologic and immunohistochemical studies were performed. Histologically, the lesion presented a patchy distribution of non-caseous granulomas comprising colloid, small lymphocytes, neutrophils, macrophages with or without epithelioid features, and multinucleated giant cells of foreign body type. In addition, numerous plasmacytoid monocytes were closely associated with the granulomas. The giant cells were CD68+, thyroglobulin- and cytokeratin-. Usually, small lymphocytes in the granulomas are CD3+, CD8+, CD45RO+ cytotoxic T-cells. In the non-granulomatous lesion, the follicles were often infiltrated by CD8+ T-lymphocytes, plasmacytoid monocytes and histiocytes, resulting in disrupted basement membrane and rupture of the follicles. Lymphoid follicles with or without active germinal centers were not observed. Moreover, no residual follicular dendritic cell networks were detected by CD23 and CAN.42 immunostains. In the interfollicular area, scattered plasma cells were observed among infiltrating cells. Neither human herpes virus 8 nor EBER-positive cells were detected in the six patients. The findings of our study suggest that cellular immune response may play an important role in the pathogenesis of subacute thyroiditis.
