Graves’ disease (GD) is hyperthyroidism associated with organ-specific autoimmune inflammation. GD occurs more frequently in adults than in children; however, pediatric patients are a therapeutic challenge due to cycles of remissions and relapses requiring constant monitoring at every stage of treatment administered. Dendritic cells (DCs) are considered to be a link between innate and adaptive immunity. DCs, as antigen-presenting cells (APCs), are involved in antigen presentation to T lymphocytes, thereby initiating a shift towards effector cells. In accordance, DCs also participate in the modulation of tolerance to specific antigens. To date, the data on DCs’ role in Graves’ pathological processes are scarce. Therefore, here, we evaluated the frequencies and role of circulating DCs in GD pediatric patients treated with methimazole. Flow cytometric analysis was implemented to evaluate three subsets of dendritic cells and their correlation with clinical GD-related parameters. We found significantly higher levels of DC subsets in patients at diagnosis. Furthermore, methimazole treatment seemed to effectively reduce subsets of DCs, which, in addition, were found to differentially correlate with thyroid function. Our study shed new light on DCs’ role in the pediatric GD pathomechanism. Further studies are required for the mechanistic assessment of DCs’ exact role in disease progression and influence on thyroid function.

中文翻译：

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评价循环树突状细胞在美甲唑治疗的小儿格雷夫斯病患者中的作用

格雷夫斯病（GD）是与器官特异性自身免疫炎症相关的甲亢。GD在成人中的发生率高于儿童。然而，由于缓解和复发的周期需要在所治疗的每个阶段进行持续监测，因此小儿患者是治疗上的挑战。树突状细胞（DC）被认为是先天免疫与适应性免疫之间的纽带。作为抗原呈递细胞（APC）的DC参与了向T淋巴细胞的抗原呈递，从而引发了向效应细胞的转移。因此，DC也参与对特定抗原的耐受性的调节。迄今为止，关于DC在Graves病理过程中的作用的数据很少。因此，在这里，我们评估了使用甲巯咪唑治疗的GD小儿患者中循环DC的频率和作用。进行流式细胞仪分析以评估树突状细胞的三个子集及其与临床GD相关参数的相关性。我们在诊断时发现患者的DC亚群水平显着升高。此外，甲巯咪唑治疗似乎可以有效减少DC的子集，此外，发现它与甲状腺功能存在差异。我们的研究为DC在小儿GD发病机制中的作用提供了新的线索。对DCs在疾病进展和对甲状腺功能的影响中的确切作用进行机械评估需要进一步的研究。甲巯咪唑治疗似乎可以有效减少DC的子集，此外，发现其与甲状腺功能存在差异。我们的研究为DC在小儿GD发病机制中的作用提供了新的线索。对DCs在疾病进展和对甲状腺功能的影响中的确切作用进行机械评估需要进一步的研究。甲巯咪唑治疗似乎可以有效减少DC的子集，此外，发现其与甲状腺功能存在差异。我们的研究为DC在小儿GD发病机制中的作用提供了新的线索。对DCs在疾病进展和对甲状腺功能的影响中的确切作用进行机械评估需要进一步的研究。