Tissue Infiltrating LTi-Like Group 3 Innate Lymphoid Cells and T Follicular Helper Cells in Graves' and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

Background

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' disease (GD) are autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITDs). These conditions have been associated to abnormalities in circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs). We postulated that immune perturbations could be more pronounced at the thyroid tissue level.

Methods

The phenotype of PBMCs and immune cells infiltrating thyroid tissue from 19 patients with HT, 21 patients with GD, and 30 controls has been analyzed by flow cytometry.

Results

We report that blood and thyroid Treg cell subsets are similarly represented in all AITDs patients and controls. Increased Lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi)-like ILC3 and CXCR5+ PD-1hi CD4+ T follicular helper cells (Tfh) tissue-infiltrating cells, together with the prevalence of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) and germinal centers (GCs) represented a typical immune signature in all HT and 60% of GD patients. In the remaining group of GD patients, the absence of the aforementioned abnormalities was associated with a higher prevalence of ophthalmopathy.

Conclusion

Tissue infiltrating Lymphoid Tissue inducer-like group 3 Innate Lymphoid cells and T follicular helper cells are increased in most thyroid autoimmune disease.