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Environmental factors and genetic background that interact to cause autoimmune thyroid disease

2007; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 14; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/med.0b013e3282ef1c48

1752-2978

Fabrizio Guarneri, Salvatore Benvenga,

T-cell and B-cell Immunology

Purpose of review To provide an updated list of genetic and environmental causative factors of autoimmune thyroid disease, and report about the recent discoveries concerning their interaction in the pathogenesis of thyroid autoimmunity. Recent findings Although significant discoveries have been made on genetic and environmental factors underlying the development of autoimmune thyroid disease, few data are available about the mechanisms by which they interact. The most interesting news in this field comes from research on molecular mimicry between microbial antigens and thyroid autoantigens. The molecular mimicry model postulates that, in predisposed subjects, a microbial antigen could trigger autoimmunity because of its structural similarity to an autoantigen of the host, and is a paradigmatic example of the multifactorial interaction of several genes and environmental factors to cause autoimmune diseases, including thyroid diseases. Summary Recent findings help us to better understand the functional mechanisms of the immune system, which are still only partially known. Beyond the scientific interest, this knowledge has immediate repercussions on clinical practice because it can suggest possible therapeutic targets for new treatments, as well as better and more specific uses of currently available drugs and resources.