Stimulatory TSH-Receptor Antibodies and Oxidative Stress in Graves Disease

Abstract

Context

We hypothesized that TSH-receptor (TSHR) stimulating antibodies (TSAbs) are involved in oxidative stress mechanisms in patients with Graves disease (GD).

Methods

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, isoform 2 (NOX2); oxidative parameters; and oxidative burst were measured in serum, urine, and whole blood from patients with GD and control subjects. Superoxide production was investigated in human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells stably overexpressing the TSHR. Lipid peroxidation was determined by immunodot-blot analysis for protein-bound 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) in human primary thyrocytes and HEK-293–TSHR cells.

Results

Serum NOX2 levels were markedly higher in hyperthyroid untreated vs euthyroid treated patients with GD, hyperthyroid patients with toxic nodular goiter, and euthyroid healthy control subjects (all P < 0.0001). Urine oxidative parameters were increased in patients with GD vs patients with toxic goiter ( P < 0.01) and/or control subjects ( P < 0.001). The maximum of the zymosan A- and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate–induced respiratory burst of leukocytes was 1.5-fold higher in whole blood from hyperthyroid patients with GD compared with control subjects ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.05). Monoclonal M22 TSAbs stimulated cAMP (HEK cells) in a dose-dependent manner. M22 ( P = 0.0082), bovine TSH ( P = 0.0028), and sera of hyperthyroid patients with GD ( P < 0.05) increased superoxide-specific 2-hydroxyethidium levels in HEK-293 TSHR cells after 48-hour incubation vs control subjects. In contrast, triiodothyronine (T3) did not affect reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In primary thyrocytes, the 4-HNE marker was higher in patients with GD vs control subjects at 6 and 48 hours ( P = 0.02 and P = 0.04, respectively). Further, after 48-hour incubation of HEK-293 TSHR cells with patient sera, 4-HNE was higher in patients with untreated GD compared with control subjects ( P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Monoclonal M22 and polyclonal serum TSAbs augment ROS generation and/or induce lipid peroxidation.

Abstract

Both polyclonal (sera from patients with untreated hyperthyroid Graves disease) and human monoclonal TSHR-stimulating autoantibodies induce oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation.