| First Author | Iwama S | Year | 2012 |
| Journal | Endocrinology | Volume | 153 |
| Issue | 8 | Pages | 4059-66 |
| PubMed ID | 22719056 | Mgi Jnum | J:189201 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5444599 | Doi | 10.1210/en.2012-1236 |
| Citation | Iwama S, et al. (2012) Hurthle cells predict hypothyroidism in interferon-gamma transgenic mice of different genetic backgrounds. Endocrinology 153(8):4059-66 |
| abstractText | Hurthle cells have long been described in Hashimoto thyroiditis but remain of undetermined significance. We have previously shown that Hurthle cells and hypothyroidism develop in C57BL/6J mice expressing interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) in the thyroid. To assess the influence of genetic backgrounds on Hurthle cell development, we crossed C57BL/6J IFNgamma transgenic mice to 14 strains and analyzed thyroid histopathology and function in a cohort of 389 mice (225 transgenic and 164 wild type) using a multiple linear regression model that also included strain, sex, genotype, and major histocompatibility complex haplotype. We then queried the Johns Hopkins surgical pathology electronic archive for "Hashimoto" and/or "thyroiditis" keywords, reviewed the reports, and reexamined the Hashimoto slides. Hurthle cells were markedly affected by the genetic background: they were prominent and associated with hypothyroidism in the C57BL/6J, C57BL/6ByJ, C57BL/10J, C57BLKS/J, C57L/J, C58/J, and BPN/3J IFNgamma transgenic strains, whereas they are mild or absent in the BPH/2J, BPL/1J, LP/J, CBA/J, Balb/cJ, DBA/1J, and NOD/ShiLtJ strains. Hurthle cells were the strongest predictor of hypothyroidism after adjusting for all the other covariates in the regression model. Interestingly, transgenic mice of the BPL/1J, DBA/1J, and NOD/ShiLtJ strains developed a marked accumulation of intrathyroidal brown adipocytes that was significantly associated with improved thyroid function. Hurthle cells were mentioned in 23% of the Hashimoto reports but increased to 79% upon our slide review. This study reports a novel association of Hurhtle cells and brown adipocytes on thyroid function that should prompt a reconsideration of their significance and role in pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroiditis. |
