Effects of Thyrotropin and Thyrotropin-Receptor-Stimulating Graves' Disease Immunoglobulin G on Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate and Hyaluronan Production in Nondifferentiated Orbital Fibroblasts of Graves' Ophthalmopathy Patients

Abstract

The strong increase in cAMP synthesis by FSK in nondifferentiated GO orbital fibroblasts results in increased HA synthesis, but TSHR activation by rhTSH or GD-IgG does not result in altered HA synthesis. Our results do not support a predominant role for GD-IgGs in the accumulation of orbital glycosaminoglycans; cytokines like IL-1beta seem largely responsible for excessive glycosaminoglycan production by nondifferentiated orbital fibroblasts in early immunopathogenesis of GO.