Demonstration of Innate Immune Responses in the Thyroid Gland: Potential to Sense Danger and a Possible Trigger for Autoimmune Reactions

Abstract

We show that thyroid cells express functional sensors for exogenous and endogenous dangers, and that they are capable of launching innate immune responses without the assistance of immune cells. Such responses may relate to the development of thyroiditis, which in turn may trigger autoimmune reactions.