ANALYSIS OF APOPTOSIS IN RELATION TO TISSUE DESTRUCTION ASSOCIATED WITH HASHIMOTO-AUTOIMMUNE-THYROIDITIS

The level of apoptosis has been investigated in thyroid tissue from ei ght patients with Graves's disease, one with Hashitoxicosis, three wit h Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and five patients with multinodular goitre, using flow cytometry and an in situ immunofluorescence technique. Cry ostat sections have also been studied for Bcl-2 and APO-1/Fas expressi on In the thyrocytes and infiltrating lymphocytes, to determine their susceptibility to apoptosis. An increased level of apoptosis was detec ted in Hashimoto's glands. This was associated with decreased Bcl-2 st aining and a patchy APO-1/Fas reactivity on thyrocytes. In addition, A PO-1/Fas expression was noted within the germinal centres of lymphoid follicles. It is suggested that the dysregulation of apoptosis-related genes could be an important factor in the progression of destructive thyroid autoimmune disease. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.