T cell vaccination prevents experimental autoimmune thyroiditis

Objective To investigate the prevention of mouse experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) induced by T cell vaccination (TCV). Methods Mouse CD4 + T cells were isolated by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS), and activated with dendritic cells and thyroglobulin, and then expanded in the condition medium containing ConA and IL-2 in vitro. These cells were collected and treated with glu- taraldehyde as TCV. The inhibiting effect of TCV on EAT was detected by autoantibody and cytokines assay, pathological assessment, and lymphocytes proliferation test. The percentage of CD4 +CD25 +T cell was analyzed by Flow cytometry (FCM). Results The levels of thyroglobulin autoantibody markedly decreased and there was no significant change in thyroid after administration of TCV. The proliferation of lymphocytes, stimulated by thyroglobulin, IL-2, and IFN-γ, was decreased, but the percentage of CD4 +CD25 +T was increased. Conclusion The data suggests that TCV can effectively prevent EAT, which may be used as a novel therapeutic strategy.