Roles of Thyroid Hormones, Mast Cells, and Inflammatory Mediators in the Initiation and Progression of Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases.

Background: Interrelation between thyrocytes and immunocytes has been established. However, the roles of mast cells and thyroid hormones in the triggering mechanism of thyroid autoimmune processes have been insufficiently investigated. This study evaluated the role of thyroid hormones and mast cells in the mechanisms of losing tolerance to thyroid autoantigens.