Cell-Mediated Immunity in the Exophthalmos of Graves' Disease as Demonstrated by the Migration Inhibition Factor (MIF) Test*

Abstract

ABSTRACT The production of migration inhibition factor (MIF) by sensitized lymphocytes in the presence of specific antigen is an accepted in vitro test of cell-mediated immunity (CMI). The MIF test has been performed in patients with untreated Graves' disease (6 patients with hyperthyroidism and exophthalmos, 9 patients with hyperthyroidism but no exophthalmos, and 9 patients with Euthyroid Ophthalmic Graves' disease) and in normal subjects, against human retroorbital muscle antigen (RMA), thyroid antigen (TA) and other organ antigens. Human thyrotrophin (TSH) was also used as an antigen, either alone, or after incubation with RMA. All patients with exophthalmos (whether hyperthyroid or euthyroid) showed positive MIF to RMA. A positive MIF to RMA was also found in 1/3 of the hyperthyroid patients without exophthalmos; the remainder however did not show MIF to this antigen. All hyperthyroid patients showed a positive MIF to TA (unrelated to the presence or absence of exophthalmos). In the euthyroid patient...