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Characterization of thyroglobulin epitopes in Sardinian adults and juveniles with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: evidence against a major effect of age and genetic background on B‐cell epitopes

2009; Wiley; Volume: 73; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1365-2265.2009.03748.x

1365-2265

Francesco Latrofa, Debora Ricci, Paolo Vitti, Alessia Prinzis, Valentina M. Cambuli, Mariangela Ghiani, Sabrina Pilia, Daniela Carta, Sandro Loche, Aldo Pinchera, Stefano Mariotti,

Blood groups and transfusion

Using recombinant human monoclonal thyroglobulin antibodies expressed as Fab molecules (TgAb-Fab), we have recently confirmed the restriction of Tg epitopes in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT).To investigate Tg epitopes of serum TgAb in HT adults and HT juveniles from a geographically isolated area (Sardinia).Serum TgAb of 39 Sardinian HT adults, 53 Sardinian HT juveniles and 45 non-Sardinian HT adults were evaluated. The binding of serum TgAb to Tg in ELISA was inhibited by four recombinant human TgAb-Fab, identifying Tg epitopic regions A-D. The percentage of Tg binding inhibition was calculated comparing the binding of serum TgAb in presence of each TgAb-Fab with that in its absence.In the whole cohort of 137 patients, A region TgAb-Fab induced the highest levels of inhibition (55.3 +/- 17.8%) (mean +/- SD). Lower levels of inhibition were induced by TgAb-Fab of regions B (27.8 +/- 25.8%), C (26.8 +/- 24.6%) and D (17.5 +/- 18.4%). In Sardinian HT adults inhibition by TgAb-Fab of regions A, B and C were comparable to Sardinian HT juveniles; the marginal D region TgAb-Fab induced a slightly higher inhibition (22.1 vs. 13.8%; P = 0.034) in the former than in the latter group. In Sardinian and non-Sardinian HT adults inhibitions by the four TgAb-Fab were similar.In HT, the Tg epitope pattern of serum TgAb was similar in juveniles and adults from a geographically restricted area and in two adult populations from different geographical areas. Thus, in HT, neither age nor genetic background appear to influence B-cell epitopes.