Apoptosis, programmed cif/ cli ,ath, is a regulating mechanism enabling the removal of superabundantly
produced and unnecessary cells. Disturbances of the apoptosis regulation contribute to the pathogenesis
of many diseases, including II ishimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Objective: To assess levels of antiapopototic
proteins; soluble Fas (sFas) cnd soluble BcI-2 (sBc1-1) in sera from patients with HT, evaluate their
relationship to antithyroptrox..dase antibodies (TPO Ab) and their signcance as markers of disease
activity. Subjects and Methods: Sera concentrations of sFas and sBc1-1 were assayed by Enzyme Linked
Immunosorbeta Assay (ELISA) in 32 patients with HT (19 with untreated HT, 13 with euthyroid HT) and
15 age-matched healthy adults as a control group. Results: sFas levels were significantly higher in both
untreated HT patients (6960+1542 pg/m1) and euthyroid HT patients (6160+1397 pg/mL) compared to
controls (5180+938 pg/m1), with p values were < 0.01 and < 0.05, respectively. On the other hand,
although sBcI-1 levels were higher in all HT patients (either those with untreated HT or those with
euthyroid HT), its levels were only significantly higher in euthyroid HT (26.35+6.91 ng/ml) compared to
controls (p < 0.05). There was positive correlation between sFas and TPO Ab in HT patients (r = 0.33,
p<0.05) and negative correlation between sBc1-2 and TPO Ab (r=-0.145, p=0.036). Conclusion:
Increased levels of antiapoptotic proteins (sFas and sBcI-1), suggested a propensity toward minimizing
apoptosis in HT patients. In addition, serum levels of sFas were positively correlated with TP0Ab,
suggesting that the increase of sFas levels is associated with activation of immune response. Serum level
of sFas can serve as an appropriate marker of disease activity, and assist in initiation of the proper
treatment that probably leads to the reduction of the autoimmune process intensity and decrease in
thyroid tissue damage in Hr |
