Long-term outcome of Graves' orbitopathy following treatment with sirolimus.

OBJECTIVES: Sirolimus was found to be associated with a better outcome of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) at 24 weeks compared to methylprednisolone. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate its efficacy and safety over a longer period. METHODS: Data from 40 consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe, active GO, 20 treated with sirolimus and 20 with methylprednisolone, were collected. PRIMARY OUTCOME: overall outcome (composite evaluation) of GO at 48 weeks. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: (1) GO outcome at 24 weeks, and, at 24 and 48 weeks: (2) outcome of single eye features; (3) quality of life (GO-QoL); (4) TSH-receptor antibodies; (5) GO relapse at 48 weeks; (6) adverse events. RESULTS: The overall GO outcome at 48 weeks did not differ between the two groups (responders: 55% vs 55%). At 24 weeks, prevalence of responders was greater in sirolimus group (65% vs 25%; P = 0.01). A reduction ≥ 1 point in clinical activity score (CAS) was more frequent in sirolimus patients at 24 (85% vs 40%; P = 0.005) and 48 weeks (75% vs 60%; P = 0.03). The proportion of GO-QoL responders (appearance subscale) at 24 weeks was greater in sirolimus group (62.5% vs 26.3%; P = 0.03). No difference was observed for the remaining outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with sirolimus is followed by a greater overall response of GO compared with methylprednisolone at 24 weeks, but not at 48 weeks, when only CAS is affected. A more prolonged period of treatment may be required for a better outcome to be observed over a longer period.

Statins in Graves Orbitopathy: A New Therapeutic Tool.

PURPOSE: Graves orbitopathy (GO) is the most common extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves disease. Although its pathogenesis is not fully elucidated, GO is commonly considered an autoimmune disease due to loss of self-tolerance against autoantigens shared by thyroid epithelial cells and orbital fibroblasts. High-dose intravenous glucocorticoids (ivGCs) are the most used treatment for moderate-to-severe, active GO, but the addition of other immunomodulating treatments can improve the efficacy of ivGCs. Among the various risk factors that can affect the occurrence of GO, cholesterol may be worthy of interest. Since 2015 the role of cholesterol and cholesterol-lowering medications has been investigated. The purpose of this review is to discuss this topic, thereby offering new therapeutic opportunities for patients with GO. METHODS: We searched PubMed for studies published between January 1, 1980 and June 1, 2023, using the search terms "Graves orbitopathy," "thyroid eye disease," "Graves ophthalmopathy," "thyroid ophthalmopathy," "thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy," "endocrine ophthalmopathy," "cholesterol," "lipids," "statins," "low-density lipoprotein," "atorvastatin," and "cholesterol-lowering drugs." Only English-language articles were included. RESULTS: A correlation between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the risk of GO development has been reported. Furthermore, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol has been proposed as a risk factor that can affect the course of GO and the response to ivGCs. The protective role of cholesterol-lowering medications in preventing GO has been also investigated. Statin treatment was found to have potential benefits in reducing the risk of GO in patients with Graves disease. Given these findings, measurement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and treatment of hypercholesterolemia in patients with moderate-to-severe, active GO may be considered before starting ivGCs administration. Recently, a randomized clinical trial aimed at investigating the effects of statins in GO suggested that the addition of oral atorvastatin to ivGCs improves the overall outcome of moderate-to-severe, active GO in hypercholesterolemic patients given ivGCs. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, statins seem to have a preventive and therapeutic role in moderate-to-severe active GO. Their efficacy can be related to cholesterol-lowering activity, pleiotropic actions, and interaction with methylprednisolone.

Functional outcomes and complications in refractory dysthyroid optic neuropathy management: Experience with 3 different surgical protocols.

INTRODUCTION: Dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) is the most severe complication of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) and its management may require decompression surgery. Clear recommendations do not exist about which surgery should be performed and how extended the decompression should be. In this paper we present our experience regarding the management of DON via 3 different surgical protocols: a modified extended orbital apex decompression, a 2 walls decompression (inferior and lateral) and a 3 walls decompression (inferior, lateral and medial) and evaluate the functional outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of subjects affected by DON not responding to medical therapy has been performed. All patients were submitted to pre- and post-operative ophthalmologic evaluations and orbital and sinuses CT scan in order to evaluate functional and surgical outcomes. RESULTS: 27 patients were enrolled in the study. Surgical procedures were performed on 42 orbits. A statistically significant post-operative improvement was recorded in visual acuity, proptosis, color vision and fundus oculi evaluation for all groups. No patient developed major or minor complications after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Extended endonasal approach and 3 walls decompression have been proved effective in the management of DON. The choice between them is done according to degree of proptosis, general status and eye-surface damages.

Beneficial effect of low-dose radioiodine ablation for Graves' orbitopathy: results of a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Graves' orbitopathy (GO) reflects an autoimmune response against antigens expressed by the thyroid and orbital tissues. Elimination of thyroid antigens may be beneficial for GO. Total thyroid ablation (TTA) [thyroidectomy (Tx), followed by 30 mCi of radioiodine] was shown to exert a beneficial effect on GO following intravenous glucocorticoids (ivGC) compared with Tx alone. Here, we investigated retrospectively whether TTA performed with a 15 mCi of radioiodine still maintains advantages over Tx. METHODS: Thirty-two subjects, 13 treated with TTA (performed with 15 mCi of radioiodine) and 19 with Tx alone, all with moderately severe, active GO, treated with ivGC, were studied. The primary objective was the outcome of GO at 24 weeks based on a composite evaluation. RESULTS: The two groups did not differ at baseline in terms of sex, age, smoking habits, TSH, anti-TSH receptor autoantibodies, GO duration and eye features. The proportion of GO responders at 24 weeks was greater in the TTA (61.5%) than in the Tx group (26.3%, P = 0.046). In contrast, GO outcome at 48 weeks did not differ between the two groups (69.2% vs 52.6% of responder in TTA and Tx group, respectively). The outcome of the individual GO features did not differ between the two groups both a 24 and 48 months. CONCLUSIONS: The advantage of total thyroid ablation seems to be a more rapid response for GO to ivGC treatment. Prospective, randomized studies in a larger number of subjects are needed to confirm our findings.

Androgens and Hypertension in Men and Women: a Unifying View.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review was designed to revaluate the androgen role on the mechanisms of hypertension and cardiovascular risks in both men and women. Sex steroids are involved in the regulation of blood pressure, but pathophysiological mechanism is not well understood. Androgens have an important effect on metabolism, adipose and endothelial cell function, and cardiovascular risk in both men and women. A focal point in this contest is represented by the possible gender-specific regulation of different tissues and in particular of the adipose cell. Available data confirm that androgen deficiency is linked to increased prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Adipocyte dysfunction seems to be the main involved mechanism. Androgen replacement reduces inflammation state in man, protecting by metabolic syndrome progression. In women, androgen excess has been considered as promoting factor of cardiovascular risk. However, recent data suggest that excessive androgen production has little effect per se in inducing hypertension in young women of reproductive age. Also in postmenopausal women, data on relative androgen excess and hypertension are missing, while adrenal androgen deficiency has been associated to increased mortality. RECENT FINDINGS: Molecular mechanisms linking androgen dysregulation to hypertension are almost Unknown, but they seem to be related to increased visceral fat, promoting a chronic inflammatory state through different mechanisms. One of these may involve the recruitment and over-activation of NF-kB, a ubiquitous transcription factor also expressed in adipose cells, where it may cause the production of cytokines and other immune factors. The NF-kB signalling pathway may also influence brown adipogenesis leading to the preferential enlargement of visceral adipocytes. Chronic inflammation and adipocyte dysfunction may alter endothelial function leading to hypertension. Both in men and in women, particularly in the post-menopausal period, hypoandrogenism seems to be a major determinant of the increased prevalence of hypertension. The relationship between androgen signalling and NF-kB might explain the pathophysiological mechanism leading to the development of endothelium dysfunction and hypertension.

The Glu331del mutation in the CYP17A1 gene causes atypical congenital adrenal hyperplasia in a 46,XX female.

17α-Hydroxylase deficiency is an uncommon type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) caused by mutations in the CYP17A1 gene encoding both 17α-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase, essential for sex steroids production. Main clinical features include lack of pubertal development, hypertension, and hypokalemia. We report the first case of a 46,XX female homozygote for the p.Glu331del mutation in the CYP17A1 gene showing an atypical clinical presentation. She was evaluated the first time for primary amenorrhea and delayed puberty in the presence of low levels of androgens, 17ß-estradiol, serum cortisol, and high levels of progesterone and gonadotropins. After puberty, the patient did not show hypocortisolism and/or hypertension. She started estrogen therapy for pubertal induction, followed by ethinylestradiol/gestodene with clinical and biochemical stability during the follow-up period. At the age of 40 years, she developed hypokalemia and clinical signs of hypocortisolism. Oral corticosteroid treatment was started showing a prompt clinical improvement. Modeling analysis predicted the main outcome of the E331 deletion to impair cytochrome b5 binding, according to a major effect on the enzyme's lyase activity. These data broaden the molecular and clinical spectrum of CAH caused by 17α-hydroxylase deficiency and adds to current genotype-phenotype correlations.

Graves disease: latest understanding of pathogenesis and treatment options.

Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in iodine-sufficient areas. The main responsible mechanism is related to autoantibodies that bind and activate the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR). Although Graves hyperthyroidism is relatively common, no causal treatment options are available. Established treatment modalities are antithyroid drugs, which reduce thyroid hormone synthesis, radioactive iodine and surgery. However, emerging drugs that target the main autoantigen (monoclonal antibodies, small molecules, peptides) or block the immune pathway have been recently tested in clinical trials. Graves disease can involve the thyroid exclusively or it can be associated with extrathyroidal manifestations, among which Graves orbitopathy is the most common. The presence of Graves orbitopathy can change the management of the disease. An established treatment for moderate-to-severe Graves orbitopathy is intravenous glucocorticoids. However, recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis of Graves orbitopathy have allowed the development of new target-based therapies by blocking pro-inflammatory cytokine receptors, lymphocytic infiltration or the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), with several clinical trials providing promising results. This article reviews the new discoveries in the pathogenesis of Graves hyperthyroidism and Graves orbitopathy that offer several important tools in disease management.

Osteoblastic erythropoietin is not required for bone mass accrual.

Erythropoietin (EPO), primarily produced by interstitial fibroblasts in the kidney during adulthood, and its receptor are well-known for their crucial role in regulating erythropoiesis. Recent research has unveiled an additional function of circulating EPO in the control of bone mass accrual and homeostasis through its receptor, which is expressed in both osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Notably, cells of the osteoblast lineage can produce and secrete functional EPO upon activation of the hypoxia signaling pathway. However, the physiological relevance of osteoblastic EPO remains to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of osteoblastic EPO in regulating bone mass accrual and erythropoiesis in young adult mice. To accomplish this, we employed a mutant mouse model lacking EPO specifically in mesenchymal progenitors and their descendants. Our findings indicate that in vivo loss of EPO in the osteoblast lineage does not significantly affect either bone mass accrual or erythropoiesis in young adult mice. Further investigations are necessary to comprehensively understand the potential contribution of EPO produced and secreted by osteoblast cells during aging, repair, and under pathological conditions.

HIF1 activation safeguards cortical bone formation against impaired oxidative phosphorylation.

Energy metabolism, through pathways such as oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) and glycolysis, plays a pivotal role in cellular differentiation and function. Our study investigates the impact of OxPhos disruption in cortical bone development by deleting mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM). TFAM controls OxPhos by regulating the transcription of mitochondrial genes. The cortical bone, constituting the long bones' rigid shell, is sheathed by the periosteum, a connective tissue layer populated with skeletal progenitors that spawn osteoblasts, the bone-forming cells. TFAM-deficient mice presented with thinner cortical bone, spontaneous midshaft fractures, and compromised periosteal cell bioenergetics, characterized by reduced ATP levels. Additionally, they exhibited an enlarged periosteal progenitor cell pool with impaired osteoblast differentiation. Increasing hypoxia-inducible factor 1a (HIF1) activity within periosteal cells substantially mitigated the detrimental effects induced by TFAM deletion. HIF1 is known to promote glycolysis in all cell types. Our findings underscore the indispensability of OxPhos for the proper accrual of cortical bone mass and indicate a compensatory mechanism between OxPhos and glycolysis in periosteal cells. The study opens new avenues for understanding the relationship between energy metabolism and skeletal health and suggests that modulating bioenergetic pathways may provide a therapeutic avenue for conditions characterized by bone fragility.

Presentation of Graves' orbitopathy within European Group On Graves' Orbitopathy (EUGOGO) centres from 2012 to 2019 (PREGO III).

BACKGROUND: Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is subject to epidemiological and care-related changes. Aim of the survey was to identify trends in presentation of GO to the European Group On Graves' Orbitopathy (EUGOGO) tertiary referral centres and initial management over time. METHODS: Prospective observational multicentre study. All new referrals with diagnosis of GO within September-December 2019 were included. Clinical and demographic characteristics, referral timelines and initial therapeutic decisions were recorded. Data were compared with a similar EUGOGO survey performed in 2012. RESULTS: Besides age (mean age: 50.5±13 years vs 47.7±14 years; p 0.007), demographic characteristics of 432 patients studied in 2019 were similar to those in 2012. In 2019, there was a decrease of severe cases (9.8% vs 14.9; p<0.001), but no significant change in proportion of active cases (41.3% vs 36.6%; p 0.217). After first diagnosis of GO, median referral time to an EUGOGO tertiary centre was shorter (2 (0-350) vs 6 (0-552) months; p<0.001) in 2019. At the time of first visit, more patients were already on antithyroid medications (80.2% vs 45.0%; p<0.001) or selenium (22.3% vs 3.0%; p<0.001). In 2019, the initial management plans for GO were similar to 2012, except for lid surgery (2.4% vs 13.9%; p<0.001) and prescription of selenium (28.5% vs 21.0%; p 0.027). CONCLUSION: GO patients are referred to tertiary EUGOGO centres in a less severe stage of the disease than before. We speculate that this might be linked to a broader awareness of the disease and faster and adequate delivered treatment.

Oxidative phosphorylation in bone cells.

The role of energy metabolism in bone cells is an active field of investigation. Bone cells are metabolically very active and require high levels of energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to support their function. ATP is generated in the cytosol via glycolysis coupled with lactic acid fermentation and in the mitochondria via oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). OXPHOS is the final convergent metabolic pathway for all oxidative steps of dietary nutrients catabolism. The formation of ATP is driven by an electrochemical gradient that forms across the mitochondrial inner membrane through to the activity of the electron transport chain (ETC) complexes and requires the presence of oxygen as the final electron acceptor. The current literature supports a model in which glycolysis is the main source of energy in undifferentiated mesenchymal progenitors and terminally differentiated osteoblasts, whereas OXPHOS appears relevant in an intermediate stage of differentiation of those cells. Conversely, osteoclasts progressively increase OXPHOS during differentiation until they become multinucleated and mitochondrial-rich terminal differentiated cells. Despite the abundance of mitochondria, mature osteoclasts are considered ATP-depleted, and the availability of ATP is a critical factor that regulates the low survival capacity of these cells, which rapidly undergo death by apoptosis. In addition to ATP, bioenergetic metabolism generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intermediate metabolites that regulate a variety of cellular functions, including epigenetics changes of genomic DNA and histones. This review will briefly discuss the role of OXPHOS and the cross-talks OXPHOS-glycolysis in the differentiation process of bone cells.

Insights Into the Role of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression in Graves Orbitopathy.

CONTEXT: A role of DNA methylation in Graves orbitopathy (GO) has been proposed. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to investigate DNA methylation and gene expression in orbital fibroblasts from control and GO patients, under basal conditions or following challenge with an anti- thyrotropin (TSH) receptor antibody (M22) or cytokines involved in GO; to investigate the relationship between DNA methylation and cell function (proliferation); and to perform a methylome analysis. METHODS: Orbital fibroblasts from 6 GO and 6 control patients from a referral center underwent methylome analysis of the whole genome. RESULTS: Global DNA methylation increased significantly both in control and GO fibroblasts on incubation with M22. Expression of 2 selected genes (CYP19A1 and AIFM2) was variably affected by M22 and interleukin-6. M22 increased cell proliferation in control and GO fibroblasts, which correlated with global DNA methylation. Methylome analysis revealed 19 869 DNA regions differently methylated in GO fibroblasts, encompassing 3957 genes and involving CpG islands, shores, and shelves. A total of 119 gene families and subfamilies, 89 protein groups, 402 biological processes, and 7 pathways were involved. Three genes found to be differentially expressed were concordantly hypermethylated or hypomethylated. Among the differently methylated genes, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor and several fibroblast growth factors and receptors were included. CONCLUSION: We propose that, when exposed to an autoimmune environment, orbital fibroblasts undergo hypermethylation or hypomethylation of certain genes, involving CpG promoters, which results in differential gene expression, which may be responsible for functional alterations, in particular higher proliferation, and ultimately for the GO phenotype in vivo.

Add-On Effect of Selenium and Vitamin D Combined Supplementation in Early Control of Graves' Disease Hyperthyroidism During Methimazole Treatment.

Prompt and stable control of hyperthyroidism is fundamental to avoid the detrimental effects of thyroid hormone excess, and antithyroid drugs, mainly methimazole (MMI), represent the first-line treatment for Graves' disease (GD) hyperthyroidism. Decreased serum concentrations of selenium (Se) and calcifediol (25(OH)D, VitD) have been reported in newly diagnosed GD patients in observational studies. Low Se levels might exacerbate oxidative stress by compromising the antioxidant machinery's response to reactive oxygen species, and low VitD levels might hamper the anti-inflammatory immune response. We performed a randomized controlled clinical trial (EudraCT 2017-00505011) to investigate whether Se and cholecalciferol (VitD) addition to MMI is associated with a prompter control of hyperthyroidism. Forty-two consecutive patients with newly-onset GD and marginal/insufficient Se and VitD levels were randomly assigned to treatment with either MMI monotherapy or MMI combined with Se and VitD. Se treatment was withdrawn after 180 days, while the other treatments were continued. Combination therapy resulted in a significantly greater reduction in serum FT4 concentration at 45 days (-37.9 pg/ml, CI 95%, -43.7 to -32.2 pg/ml) and 180 days (-36.5 pg/ml, CI 95%, -42 to -30.9 pg/ml) compared to MMI monotherapy (respectively: -25.7 pg/ml, CI 95%, -31.6 to -19.7 pg/ml and -22.9 pg/ml, CI 95%, -28 to -17.3 pg/ml, p 0.002). Data at 270 days confirmed this trend (-37.8 pg/ml, CI 95%, -43.6 to -32.1 pg/ml vs -24.4 pg/ml, CI 95%, -30.3 to -18.4 pg/ml). The quality of life (QoL) score was investigated by the validated "Thyroid-related Patient-Reported Outcome" questionnaire (ThyPRO). ThyPRO composite score showed a greater improvement in the intervention group at 45 days (-14.6, CI 95%, -18.8 to -10.4), 180 (-9, CI 95%, -13.9 to -4.2) and 270 days (-14.3, CI 95%, -19.5 to -9.1) compared to MMI group (respectively, -5.2, CI 95%, -9.5 to -1; -5.4, CI 95%, -10.6 to -0.2 and -3.5, CI 95%, -9 to -2.1, p 0-6 months and 6-9 months <0.05). Our results suggest that reaching optimal Se and VitD levels increases the early efficacy of MMI treatment when Se and VitD levels are suboptimal.

Statins for Graves' orbitopathy (STAGO): a phase 2, open-label, adaptive, single centre, randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: A protective action of statins on development of Graves' orbitopathy suggests that statins might be used for treatment of the disease. We aimed to assess the efficacy of the addition of a statin, atorvastatin, to intravenous glucocorticoids (ivGCs) on Graves' orbitopathy outcomes in patients with hypercholesterolaemia. METHODS: We did a randomised, open-label, phase 2, adaptive, clinical trial at a single, tertiary, referral hospital in Pisa, Italy. Patients with moderate-to-severe, active Graves' orbitopathy, with a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration between 2·97 and 4·88 mmol/L were eligible for inclusion. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) in 11 blocks of eight, using a computer-based system, to the ST group or the NST group. The ST group received ivGCs (methylprednisolone 500 mg once a week for 6 weeks followed by 250 mg once a week for an additional six weeks) for 12 weeks and oral atorvastatin (20 mg once a day) for 24 weeks. The NST group only received the ivGC regimen. Patients were unmasked to group allocation; however, the ophthalmological investigator was masked to randomisation. The primary endpoint was the Graves' orbitopathy outcome (composite evaluation of exophthalmos, clinical activity score, eyelid aperture, and diplopia) at 24 weeks in the modified intention-to-treat (ITT) population (patients who attended the week 12 visit). Patients were considered responders when at least two of the following criteria were fulfilled in the most affected eye, without worsening in any of the same measures in both eyes: (1) reduction in exophthalmos of 2 mm or more, with no increase by 2 mm or more in the other eye; (2) reduction of clinical activity score by two or more points; (3) reduction in eyelid aperture by 2 mm or more, with no increase by 2 mm or more in the other eye; and (4) disappearance or improvement (change from constant to inconstant, intermittent, or absent, or from inconstant to intermittent or absent) of diplopia, and (5) improvement in visual acuity by 0·2 decimals or more. The trial is registered with EUDRACT, 2018-001317-33, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03110848. FINDINGS: Between June 1, 2020, and Nov 30, 2020, 119 patients were screened for inclusion, of whom 88 (74%) patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups (44 [50%] to the ST group and 44 [50%] to the NST group). Eight (9%) patients did not attend the 12 week visit; 80 (91%) patients (18 [23%] men and 62 [78%] women) were included in the modified ITT population (41 [51%] in the ST group and 39 [49%] in the NST group]. The proportion of Graves' orbitopathy composite evaluation responders at 24 weeks was higher in the ST group (21 [51%] of 41 patients) than the NST group (11 [28%] of 39 patients; attributable risk 0·23 [95% CI 0·02-0·44]; p=0·042). 26 adverse events occurred in 21 (24%) of 88 patients in the safety population. One (2%) of 44 patients in each group required treatment discontinuation, with no serious adverse events and no difference between groups. INTERPRETATION: Addition of oral atorvastatin to an ivGC regimen improved Graves' orbitopathy outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe, active eye disease who were hypercholesterolaemic. Future phase 3 studies, which could potentially recruit patients regardless of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, are required to confirm this association. FUNDING: Associazione Allievi Endocrinologia Pisana.

Genetic Profiling of Orbital Fibroblasts from Patients with Graves' Orbitopathy.

CONTEXT: Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is an autoimmune disease that persists when immunosuppression is achieved. Orbital fibroblasts from GO patients display peculiar phenotypes even if not exposed to autoimmunity, possibly reflecting genetic or epigenetic mechanisms, which we investigated here. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore potential genetic or epigenetic differences using primary cultures of orbital fibroblasts from GO and control patients. METHODS: Cell proliferation, hyaluronic acid (HA) secretion, and HA synthases (HAS) were measured. Next-generation sequencing and gene expression analysis of the whole genome were performed, as well as real-time-PCR of selected genes and global DNA methylation assay on orbital fibroblasts from 6 patients with GO and 6 control patients from a referral center. RESULTS: Cell proliferation was higher in GO than in control fibroblasts. Likewise, HA in the cell medium was higher in GO fibroblasts. HAS-1 and HAS-2 did not differ between GO and control fibroblasts, whereas HAS-3 was more expressed in GO fibroblasts. No relevant gene variants were detected by whole-genome sequencing. However, 58 genes were found to be differentially expressed in GO compared with control fibroblasts, and RT-PCR confirmed the findings in 10 selected genes. We postulated that the differential gene expression was related to an epigenetic mechanism, reflecting diverse DNA methylation, which we therefore measured. In support of our hypothesis, global DNA methylation was significantly higher in GO fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that, following an autoimmune insult, DNA methylation elicits differential gene expression and sustains the maintenance of GO.

Disappearance of Anti-Thyroid Autoantibodies following Thymectomy in Patients with Myasthenia Gravis.

OBJECTIVES: The thymus plays a central role in immune tolerance, which prevents autoimmunity. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is commonly associated with thymoma or thymus hyperplasia, and it can coexist with autoimmune thyroid diseases. However, the role of the thymus in thyroid autoimmunity remains to be clarified, which we investigated here. STUDY DESIGN: The study design entailed the inclusion of consecutive MG patients and the measurement of anti-thyroid autoantibodies at baseline and, limited to autoantibody-positive patients, also at 24 and 48 weeks. One hundred and seven MG patients were studied. The main outcome measure was the behaviour of anti-thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAbs) and anti-thyroperoxidase autoantibodies (TPOAbs) over time in relation to thymectomy. RESULTS: Serum TgAbs and/or TPOAbs were detected in ∼20% of patients in the absence of thyroid dysfunction. The prevalence of positive serum TgAbs and/or TPOAbs decreased significantly (p = 0.002) over the follow-up period in patients who underwent thymectomy, but not in patients who were not thymectomized. When the analysis was restricted to TgAbs or TPOAbs, findings were similar. On the same line, there was a general trend towards a reduction in the serum concentrations of anti-thyroid autoantibodies in patients who underwent thymectomy, which was significant for TPOAbs (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a role of the thymus in the maintenance of humoral thyroid autoimmunity.

Antioxidant Therapy in Graves' Orbitopathy.

The balance of the cell redox state is a key point for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation leads to oxidative damage of tissues, which is involved in the development of several diseases, including autoimmune diseases. Graves' Orbitopathy (GO) is a disfiguring autoimmune-related condition associated with Graves' Disease (GD). Patients with active, moderate-to-severe GO, are generally treated with high doses intravenous glucocorticoids (ivGCs) and/or orbital radiotherapy. On the contrary, up to recently, local ointments were the treatment most frequently offered to patients with mild GO, because the risks related to ivGCs does not justify the relatively poor benefits expected in mild GO. However, a medical treatment for these patients is heavily wanted, considering that GO can progress into more severe forms and also patients with mild GO complain with an impairment in their quality of life. Thus, based on the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of GO, a therapy with antioxidant agents has been proposed and a number of studies have been performed, both in vitro and in vivo, which is reviewed here.

Oxidative Stress in Graves Disease and Graves Orbitopathy.

Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of Graves hyperthyroidism (GH) and Graves orbitopathy (GO) and an antioxidant approach has been proposed for both. In GH, a disbalance of the cell redox state is associated with thyroid hyperfunction and antithyroid medications may reduce oxidative stress. Tissue hypoxia participates in the pathogenesis of GO, and oxygen free radicals are involved in the typical changes of orbital tissues as reported by in vitro and clinical studies. Antioxidant agents, especially selenium, have been proposed as a therapeutic option for GH and GO. A clinical study regarding the use of selenium in mild GO has provided evidence for a beneficial effect in the short term, even though its beneficial effects in the long term are still to be investigated. In addition to selenium, a protective role of other antioxidant agents, i.e., quercetin, enalapril, vitamin C, N-acetyl-L-cysteine and melatonin has been suggested by in vitro studies, although clinical studies are lacking. Here, we review the role of oxidative stress and antioxidant agents in GH and GO.

Selenium in the Treatment of Graves' Hyperthyroidism and Eye Disease.

Based on the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of Graves' hyperthyroidism (GH) and Graves' Orbitopathy (GO), a therapy with the antioxidant agent selenium has been proposed and a number of studies have been performed, both in vitro and in vivo. In GH, reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to the thyroid and peripheral tissues damage. In GO, tissue hypoxia, as well as ROS, are involved in the typical changes that occur in fibroadipose orbital tissue and the perimysium of extraocular muscles. Antioxidants have been proposed to improve the effects of antithyroid drugs in GH patients, as well as the remodeling of orbital tissues in patients with GO. Here, we reviewed the literature on the possible beneficial effects and clinical use of selenium in the management of patients with GH and GO. A randomized clinical trial on the use of selenium in patients with mild GO provided evidence for a beneficial effect; no data are available on more severe forms of GO. Although the real effectiveness of selenium in patients with GH remains questionable, its use in the management of mild GO is generally believed to be beneficial, and selenium administration has been included in the clinical practice for the patients with mild eye disease.

Immune Checkpoint Blockade Anti-PD-L1 as a Trigger for Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome.

CONTEXT: The programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway is a key regulator in T-cell activation and tolerance, limiting effector T-cell function in peripheral tissues. Atezolizumab, an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, is approved for treatment of some types of advanced cancer. Its main treatment-related adverse events are immune related, such as thyroid dysfunction and hypophysitis. Autoimmune endocrinopathy can occur as isolated manifestations; only a few cases of autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes have been reported thus far. CASE: We report a case of polyendocrine syndrome type 2, characterized by Addison disease (AD), type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), accompanied by hypophysitis, in a patient treated with atezolizumab. Testing was positive for 21-hydroxylase and pituitary antibodies and negative for islet cells antibodies. HLA typing revealed DRB1*04 and DQB1*03 haplotypes, which are associated with increased susceptibility to T1DM and AD. CONCLUSION: The type and severity of immune-related adverse events in polyendocrine syndrome type 2 are different and depend on the monoclonal antibody used. Although the numerous molecular mechanisms inducing autoimmune endocrine diseases are still unclear, a link exists between HLA haplotypes, gene variants involved in immune checkpoint molecule expression, and increased susceptibility to autoimmune endocrinopathies. Additional studies are needed to identify susceptible patients and adapt therapy to each patient.