Concepedia

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the presence of S-100 protein-positive and CD1-positive dendritic cells (DCs) in tissues with various human thyroid diseases. Infiltrating DCs were frequently observed in papillary carcinoma and Hashimoto's disease, and these DCs were composed primarily of IDCs. The number of DCs was closely correlated with the expression of thyrocytes for S-100 protein and Ia-antigen. These findings suggest that DCs may play an important role in the immunologic defence mechanisms against papillary carcinomas and in the progression and self perpetuation of autoimmunity.