Orbital tissue-derived T lymphocytes from patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy recognize autologous orbital antigens

Lymphocytic and other mononuclear cell infiltration of the retro-bulbar space is observed in Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). We investigated the antigenic character of orbital adipose/connective tissue and muscle from 21 euthyroid patients with severe GO after orbital surgery. Orbital tissue proteins were separated and recovered in soluble form by means of an electroelution technique. Twenty-two protein fractions, identified according to their molecular mass ranges, were used as antigens for orbital tissue-derived and peripheral blood T lymphocytes. Seventeen T cell lines from 6 patients were established from in vivo activated orbital T cells using interleukin-2 and anti-CD3 antibodies. T cell proliferation was measured as [3H] thymidine uptake. When screened for their reactivity to autologous adipose/connective tissue proteins, all T cell lines responded significantly to protein fractions 6-10 kDa [stimulation index (SI) = 32.9 +/- 9.8 (mean +/- SE)] and 19-26 kDa (17 +/- 5), but not to tuberculin, which wa...