Peripheral blood lymphocyte transformation in response to human thyroid fractions in patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism and ophthalmopathy.

Peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) transformation in response to human thyroid fractions was carried out in patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism and ophthalmopathy. The fractions used were, an extract, a soluble (cytosol) fraction, and membranes prepared by differential centrifugation at (i) 6500 x g (mitochondria), (ii) 10 000 x g (plasma membranes as used in the radioreceptor assay for thyroid stimulating antibody (TSAb) and (iii) 40 000 x g (microsomes). Results were expressed as stimulation indices (SI). Mean SI for patients were significantly increased compared with those for normals for cytosol and mitochondria but not the other fractions. Taking the upper limit of normal as mean +2 SD for normal subjects for each fraction, positive tests were found in 12 of 35 patients tested. This was in response to extract in 3 of 32 patients, to the soluble fraction in 10 of 31 patients, to mitochondria in 2 of 13 patients, to plasma membranes in 1 of 33 patients, and to microsomes in 1 of 27 patients. Positive tests were associated with hyperthyroidism but not ophthalmopathy.