Experimental rat models for Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

PURPOSE: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune thyroid disease characterized by T lymphocyte-mediated destruction of thyroid follicles. To study the pathogenesis of HT and the efficacy of new substances for its treatment, an easily obtained and adequate to the human disease experimental model is needed. The aim of our study was to find out whether it is possible to induce experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) similar to Hashimoto's thyroiditis by injecting with thyroglobulin (Tg) without using agents that enhance its thyroiditogenicity and without taking into account the genetic sensitivity of animals. METHODS: Wistar rats were immunized with freshly isolated rat Tg or porcine Tg. In 8 weeks, histological studies of the thyroid and parathyroid glands were performed. Thyroid function and total serum calcium level were also evaluated. RESULTS: Immunization with both rat and porcine freshly isolated Tg caused T lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland, thyroid follicle atrophy and degradation in Wistar rats. EAT caused by porcine Tg was characterized by greater severity than EAT induced with rat Tg. In 55% of rats with porcine Tg-induced EAT, oxyphilic metaplasia was detected in the parathyroid glands. In addition, low total serum calcium was observed in these rats. CONCLUSION: Two rat models of autoimmune thyroiditis were obtained. EAT caused in Wistar rats by immunization with rat Tg is similar to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. EAT induced with porcine Tg was accompanied by oxyphil cell metaplasia in the parathyroids and hypocalcemia.

Quantal response equilibrium for the Prisoner's Dilemma game in Markov strategies.

Within the studies of human cooperation, there are gaps that require further investigation. One possible area for growth is developing theoretical concepts which describe high levels of cooperation. In this paper, we present a symmetrical quantal response equilibrium (QRE) in Prisoner's Dilemma game (PD) constructed in Markov strategies (tolerance to defection and mutual cooperation). To prove the adequacy of the resulting equilibrium, we compare it with the previously found Nash equilibrium in PD in Markov strategies: the QRE converges with the Nash equilibrium that corresponds with the theory. Next, we investigate the properties of QRE in PD in Markov strategies by testing it against experimental data. For low levels of rationality, the found equilibrium manages to describe high cooperation. We derive the levels of rationality under which the intersection between Nash and QRE occurs. Lastly, our experimental data suggest that QRE serves as a dividing line between behavior with low and high cooperation.

T lymphocyte dependence of the immune response to immunosuppressive neoantigen-exposing Fc fragments of IgG.

We recently identified a rheumatoid factor associated with autoimmune disease resistance and remission, and have named it regulatory rheumatoid factor (regRF). Epitopes recognized by regRF can be induced in papain Fc fragments of IgG. Immunization of arthritic rats with homologous Fc fragments that expose neoepitopes recognized by regRF reduces the symptoms of collagen-induced arthritis. Therefore, regRF-producing lymphocytes are a promising therapeutic target in arthritis, and Fc fragments are a means of stimulating this target.