
How can the immune system affect the causes of Hashimoto’s Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?
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Hashimoto's disease also called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, is a condition affecting the thyroid gland. Immunological disorders including an abnormal autoimmune response have been found to be the major causes of Hashimoto’s disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.
The thyroid is a small gland located at the base of your neck just below the Adam's apple. It is a part of the endocrine system that produces hormones responsible for coordinating several functions in the body.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis occurs when the immune system attacks the gland and reduces its efficiency. It is also a common cause of hypothyroidism as it interferes with the ability of the gland to produce the thyroid hormones resulting in abnormal levels of T3 and T4.
The common symptoms of Hashimoto's disease include fatigue, sluggishness, an increased sensitivity to cold, dry and pale skin, constipation, rash and puffiness of the face, brittle nails and hair loss. Some patients may also develop an enlargement of the tongue, pain in the joints and muscles and unexplained weight gain.
These symptoms can be relieved significantly by identifying and eliminating the causes of Hashimoto’s disease such as an improperly functioning immune system. Here is a brief discussion about the role played by immune system dysfunctions in the development of this disorder.
How do immune system dysfunctions contribute to the causes of Hashimoto’s disease?
Autoimmune response
Recent studies have confirmed the role of the immune system and the cytokines released due to an abnormal immune cell response in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. An abnormal response of the immune system was found to be one of the major causes of Hashimoto’s disease. Research studies have revealed that the development of this condition occurs due to inefficient immune reactivity and tolerance to the thyroid autoantigens such as thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR), peroxidase (TPO), and thyroglobulin (TG). These immune system abnormalities can lead to the infiltration of the thyroid gland by B cells and T cells that produce specific antibodies, which trigger the development of thyroiditis. This study has emphasized the need for immunological intervention in order to effectively manage Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.Organ-specific T-cell mediated response
Clinical research has helped in identifying the causes of Hashimoto’s disease. Findings have revealed that this condition occurs due to the organ-specific response of the immune system through the release of T-cells. The risk of subclinical hypothyroidism is also found to be higher in patients suffering from Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This was evident as an increase in the serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels with normal serum levels of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). A dramatic loss of thyroid follicular cells called thyrocytes and the presence of circulating autoantibodies to the primary thyroid-specific antigens such as thyroglobulin (Tg) was also observed in patients suffering from this disease. These findings suggest a possible role in the development of antibodies in triggering the causes of Hashimoto’s disease.