The function of Fas, FasL and Bcl- 2 in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disorders
- VernacularTitle:凋亡相关因子参与自身免疫性甲状腺疾病发病的研究
- Author:
Shenren CHEN
;
Zhichao ZHENG
;
Yiping LUO
;
Lijuan DENG
;
Haihua HUANG
;
Linxing CHEN
;
Wei ZHANG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Apoptosis;
Thyroiditis;
autoimmune;
Graves'disease;
Gene expression
- From:
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology
1986;0(03):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
AIM: To investigate the expression and function of apoptosis-related protein, Fas, FasL, and Bcl-2 in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroiditis. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was performed on 20 Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), 20 Graves' disease (GD), and 20 thyroid follicular adenoma (TFA, as control). RESULTS: All the cases expressed Fas, mainly on the cell surface and cytoplasm. FasL was found in all except 3 of the TFA. Bcl-2 in 15 of HT, 19 of GD, 17 of TFA. In TFA follicular cells expressed moderate Fas and minimal or absent FasL. In HT, follicles adjacent to infiltrating lymphocytes showed a increased levels of Fas and FasL, but infiltrating lymphocytes exhibited weaker staining of Fas and FasL than thyrocytes. In GD, thyrocytes and lymphocytes showed nearly similar Fas with HT, but rather weaker for FasL than HT. Bcl-2 was nearly similar in GD and TFA, but follicular cells in vicinity of lymphocytes and lymphocytes located in germinal centers of HT tissues exhibited significantly weaker. CONCLUSION: The expression of Fas, FasL and Bcl-2 in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease was nearly similar. Strong FasL expression and weak Bcl-2 expression on the follicles in HT may induce apoptosis. These results provide further proof that the functions of Fas and its ligand and Bcl-2 may play an important part in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases. The lymphocytes do not seem to be directly engaged in the process with their own FasL, but they may provide some cytokines that, in turn, up-regulates Fas and/or FasL leading to apoptosis.
