Association of CT60 cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 gene polymorphism with thyroid autoantibody production in patients with Hashimoto's and postpartum thyroiditis

P>Strong genetic contribution has been demonstrated to influence the development of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) as well as thyroid autoantibody production. In order to assess the relation between CT60 cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) gene polymorphism and thyroid autoantibody production, we investigated 180 consecutive newly diagnosed patients with two forms of AITD, 105 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and 75 with postpartum thyroiditis (PPT). We evaluated thyroid function, measured antibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin (Tg), and determined CT60 CTLA-4 gene polymorphism. In HT, TPO antibody median value was significantly lower in the AA compared to the AG and GG genotypes (65, 122 and 319 U/ml, P < 0 center dot 005), while the Tg antibody median value was lower in the AA compared to the AG genotype (91 and 189 U/ml, P < 0 center dot 02). In PPT, the frequency of thyroid autoantibody-positive patients was higher among G-allele-carrying genotypes (P < 0 center dot 04). Similar to HT, the TPO antibody median value was lower in the AA compared to the AG and GG genotypes (12, 130 and 423 U/ml, P < 0 center dot 006). Hypothyroid PPT patients were more often thyroid autoantibody-positive (P < 0 center dot 005) and the TPO antibody median value was higher compared to hyperthyroid PPT patients (500 and 32 U/ml, P < 0 center dot 0001). The frequency of the G-allele was significantly higher among hypothyroid patients (P < 0 center dot 05). Our data suggest that in both HT and PPT, the CT60 CTLA-4 gene polymorphism contributes importantly to thyroid autoantibody production. In PPT, the genotype also seems to influence thyroid function, as patients with the polymorphous allele are more prone to develop hypothyroid form of PPT.