Expression of TIGIT and FCRL3 is Altered in T Cells from Patients with Distinct Patterns of Chronic Autoimmune Thyroiditis

摘要

Background Co-inhibitory receptors (IR), such as TIGIT and FCRL3, provide a checkpoint against highly destructive immune responses. Co-expression of TIGIT and FCRL3, in particular, has been linked to the HELIOS+ subset of regulatory CD4(+) FOXP3(+) T-cells. Of these, CD4(+) FOXP3-exon(E)2(+) cells have higher expression of IR and exhibit strongest suppressive properties. Nevertheless, how the expression of TIGIT, FCRL3, HELIOS, and FOXP3E2 is regulated in chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (AT), is not known.