Serum Levels Of Proinflammatory Cytokines (Interleukin 6 & Interleukin 15) And Adiponectin In Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis With Different Thyroid Function States

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a localized autoimmune disease which is characterized by an overactive immune response of the body directed against its own tissues causing prolonged inflammation. Numerous cytokines have been identified at sites of chronic inflammation such as arthritis, thyroiditis and periodontitis as interleukin 6 and interleukin 15. Adiponectin, adipocyte-derived proteins, have immunoregulatory properties and it controls immune responses and inflammation.This study aimed to determine the levels of adiponectin, interleukin 6 and interleukin 15 in patients sera of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis with different thyroid functional states (hypothyroidism, euthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism). Subjects and methods: Seventy patients (8 males, 62 females) of newly diagnosed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) in Al-Azhar University Hospitals were selected on the basis of high serum levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO Ab). The patients were divided according to the thyroid function tests into three groups: Free triiodothyronine (FT3), free tetraiodothyronine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The first group was patients with hypothyroidism (H) (3 males, 25 females with mean age 46.5±6.23) with increased TSH and decreased both FT3 and FT4; the second group was patients with euthyroidism (E) (2 males, 16 females with mean age 48.77±6.56) with normal TSH, FT3 & FT4 and the third group was patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) (3 males, 21 females with mean age 48.95±6.61) with increased TSH and normal both FT3 and FT4. The fourth group is a healthy control group (C) (2 males, 15 females with mean age 49.52±7.55) with matched age, gender and body mass index (BMI) with the patient groups. TPO Ab, FT3, FT4, TSH, adiponectin, IL-6 and IL-15 serum levels were measured in all groups. Obtained results revealed a highly significant increase in the mean serum levels of TPO Ab, IL-6 and IL-15 were detected in each of the three patient groups compared to the control group. A positive correlation between adiponectin and each of BMI and WHR in group II (E) only was detected. Also, a highly positive correlation was found between IL-6 and IL-15 in the patient groups. On conclusion, IL-6 and IL-15 may have a possible role in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis irrespective to thyroid function states. In contrast, the serum level of adiponectin may have no role in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. [Soha Z. El-Shenawy, Mahmoud H. Hemida and Hatem Attia. SERUM LEVELS OF PROINFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES (INTERLEUKIN 6 & INTERLEUKIN 15) AND ADIPONECTIN IN HASHIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS WITH DIFFERENT THYROID FUNCTION STATES. Journal of American Science 2011;7(6):1156-1162].(ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.americanscience.org.