Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
A Flow Cytometry-Based Cytotoxicity Assay for the Assessment of Human NK Cell Activity
Published on: August 9, 2017
Increase in peripheral natural killer cell activity in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Insights
Natural killer (NK) cell activity is elevated in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases like Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Increased NK cell activity correlates with disease exacerbation, suggesting a role in managing thyroid autoimmunity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Autoimmunity
Background:
- Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) encompass conditions like Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
- Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial components of the innate immune system, involved in recognizing and eliminating stressed or infected cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the activity and number of NK cells in peripheral blood of patients with AITD.
- To determine the correlation between NK cell parameters and disease activity in AITD.
Main Methods:
- NK cell activity was quantified using a 51Cr-release assay.
- NK cell numbers were analyzed via flow cytometry with fluorescently labeled monoclonal antibodies (CD16, CD57).
- Patient groups included untreated Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, postpartum Graves' thyrotoxicosis, and respective controls.
Main Results:
- Elevated NK cell activity was observed in patients with untreated Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis compared to controls.
- Markedly increased NK cell activity was found in postpartum Graves' thyrotoxicosis patients.
- NK cell activity was higher in the thyrotoxic state than in the euthyroid state within the same patients.
- An increase in CD16-positive cells was noted in postpartum Graves' thyrotoxicosis, while other NK cell markers remained normal in most groups.
Conclusions:
- Increased NK cell activity is associated with the exacerbation of autoimmune thyroid diseases, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease.
- NK cells may play a significant role in regulating disease activity within autoimmune thyroid conditions.
- Further research into NK cell function could offer new therapeutic targets for AITD.
Abstract:
Changes in the activity and number of natural killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease were examined. NK activity was measured in a 4-hr 51Cr-release assay and the number of NK cells was analyzed with FITC-conjugated monoclonal antibodies by use of an automated flow cytometer. NK activity in patients with untreated Graves' disease (n = 25, 39.7 +/- 13.5%, P less than 0.05) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (n = 18, 41.0 +/- 14.2%, P less than 0.05) was high compared to the activity in non-pregnant controls (n = 61, 32.6 +/- 15.0%). NK activity in patients with postpartum Graves' thyrotoxicosis (n = 11, 48.6 +/- 18.9%) was markedly increased compared to the activity in non-pregnant controls (P less than 0.01) and in postpartum controls (n = 29, 33.8 +/- 15.2%, P less than 0.05), although the mean ages of each group did not differ significantly. Moreover, NK activities in the thyrotoxic state were significantly higher than those in the euthyroid state in the same patients with postpartum Graves' thyrotoxicosis or with postpartum destructive thyrotoxicosis. The number of CD16 positive cells increased in patients with postpartum Graves' thyrotoxicosis. However the number of CD16 and CD57 positive cells were normal in all other groups of patients. These results indicate that an increase of NK activity is associated with exacerbation of autoimmune thyroid disease both in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and in Graves' disease and suggest that NK cells might have an important role for the control of disease activity in autoimmune thyroid disease.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Cells of the Innate Immune Response
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
01:25Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
01:27Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...