Cytotoxic lymphocytes in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

The ability of peripheral lymphocytes from patients with Hashimoto's disease to destroy target cells coated with thyroid-related-autoantigens has been demonstrated. Direct cytotoxicity was demonstrable against mouse mastocytoma target cells coated with human thyroglobulin or microsomal antigen from thyrotoxic thyroid glands. No correlation was noted between circulating antibody and the ability of these cells to be cytotoxic. The significance of the in vitro expression of cell-mediated immunity in this method is discussed.