Increased expression of membrane-bound TGF-β1, GITR, and GITR ligand in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease

• DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2025.107036
• Publication Date: 2025-05-22T15:07:37Z
• Authors: Fumiaki Hayashi; Naoya Inoue; Yoshinori Iwatani; Yuka Yamashita; Hiroya Yamada; Akira Miyauchi; Mikio Watanabe
• Keywords: Thyroid disease

Regulatory T (Treg) cells, which play an important role in maintaining self-tolerance, are present the thyroid-infiltrating lymphocytes of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). We examined expression membrane-bound transforming growth factor-β1 (mTGF-β1), mediates regulatory function and glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor-related protein (GITR). The turn may inhibit on Treg cells TGF-β1 receptor II (TGF-βRII) GITR expression. also evaluated ligand (GITRL) localization tissues. mTGF-β1+ proportion was higher AITD than their peripheral blood. GITR+ among Tregs Teff GITRL thyrocytes healthy subjects. interaction balance mTGF-β1, GITR, TGF-βRII, especially thyrocyte expression, could be critical pathogenesis.