Background
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a common autoimmune disease, and an increasing number of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cases are being diagnosed in HT patients. The
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs have vital regulatory functions in the initiation and progression of PTC by secreting the inhibitory cytokine IL-10.
Methods
Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportions of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs, and the level of interleukin-10 (IL-10) secreted by CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood of PTC patients with and without HT. AimPlex bead-based immunoassays were used to determine serum cytokine levels.
Results
No significant differences were observed in the proportion of CD4+ or CD8+ T cells in the two groups of PTC patients. The percentage of CD4+FoxP3+ Tregs and their levels of IL-10 were significantly lower in PTC patients with HT than in those without HT. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs have vital regulatory functions in the initiation and progression of PTC by secreting the inhibitory cytokine IL-10.