Different immunophenotype and autoantibody production by peripheral blood and thyroid-derived lymphocytes in patients with Graves' disease

Abstract

Direct multi-colour flow cytometric analysis was employed in patients with Graves' disease (n = 10) to determine the immunophenotype in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) at the time of diagnosis without treatment (PBLw) and prior to operation (PBLp) and in thyroid-derived lymphocytes (TL). Additionally, the secretion of anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies (anti-TPO) was measured during culture of isolated peripheral or thyroid-derived B cells.