CD31, CD62E, and CD62P identify a specific pattern of endothelial activation in Graves' disease.

The different degrees of lymphocytic infiltration observed in Graves' disease, Hashimoto's disease, and De Quervain thyroiditis suggest that the regulation of adhesion molecules expressed on endothelial cells could be different in these autoimmune disorders of the thyroid. Using immunohistological techniques, we observed that thyroid samples from patients with Graves' disease displayed a characteristic pattern of capillary proliferation, with CD62P, CD62E, and CD31 expression on endothelial cells. This was different from the pattern and size of endothelial cells expressing adhesion molecules in the two other types of thyroiditis where larger vessels and high endothelial venules were stained. Almost no signs of endothelial cell activation could be seen in a comparative series of non-autoimmune disorders.