부산대학교 도서관

Postpartum thyroiditis (PPT) is characterized by a rapid evolution and recovery of euthyroidism. Therefore, it can represent a good model to study early cytokine fluctuations in autoimmune thyroid diseases. TGFβ1 is an immunosuppressive cytokine, as it inhibits T and B cell proliferation, natural killer cell cytotoxic activity, and the generation of T cell cytotoxicity.The aim of this study was to assess serum concentrations of TGFβ1 during pregnancy and to study possible serum fluctuations of this cytokine during the different phases of PPT. Thyroid biochemical pattern, antithyroid autoantibodies (ATA), and total and active TGFβ1 (aTGFβ1) serum concentrations were evaluated in 63 pregnant women. Thirty-four of them were ATA, and 29 were ATA. Twenty of the 34 ATA women were followed in the postpartum year. Nine of these 20 women developed PPT; 11 remained euthyroid. All of the PPT women became euthyroid during the follow-up. Our results showed 1) detectable serum levels of aTGFβ1 in 50% of ATA pregnant women, suggesting that the presence of autoantibodies may characterize a favorable condition for TGFβ1 activation; and 2) decreased total TGFβ1 and increased aTGFβ1 serum levels during the active phase of PPT in ATA women. This seems to suggest that inflammation may be responsible for TGFβ1 activation and autoantibody increase because of antigen release. Although further studies of women with persistent hypothyroidism after the postpartum year are needed, the possibility that the enhanced activation of TGFβ1 may contribute to resolution of thyroid inflammation postpartum cannot be excluded.