Expression of very late antigen-4 and lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 on peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with graves disease.

The aim of the study was to estimate the expression of beta1 integrin CD49d (very late antigen-4), beta2 integrin CD11a (lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 alpha), L-selectin (CD62L), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1 (CD54)] on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with Graves disease (GD) (n = 45, mean age 15.9 +/- 5.9 y), in patients with nontoxic nodular goiter (NTNG) (n = 25, mean age 15.2 +/- 5.7 y), and in sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects (n = 25, mean age 15.9 +/- 2.4 y). The expression of the lymphocyte adhesion molecules was analyzed by the three-color flow cytometry. Decreased percentages of CD49d+ and CD11a+ lymphocytes were observed in untreated Graves' patients in comparison to healthy controls (p < 0.007, p < 0.036) and non-toxic nodular goiter patients (p < 0.006, p < 0.019). The analysis of CD62L+ and CD54+ antigen expression on peripheral blood lymphocytes revealed increased percentages of L-selectin- and ICAM-1-positive cells in patients with GD (p < 0.005 for CD62L, p < 0.008 for ICAM-1) before methimazole therapy, compared with healthy controls. These abnormalities were absent in children with NTNG. In patients with untreated GD, a positive correlation was found between serum levels of free thyroxine and the percentage of CD54+ lymphocytes (r = 0.47, p < 0.036). Statistically significant negative correlations existed between free thyroxine concentration in blood serum and the percentage of CD11a+ lymphocytes (r = -0.39, p < 0.033). No such correlation was detected between the percentage of lymphocyte markers and serum levels of antithyroid antibodies. We conclude that the alterations in the expression of adhesion molecules on peripheral blood mononuclear cells might suggest their role in the development of GD.