Pediatric Clinic, University Clinical Center, Nis, Serbia.
Horm Res Paediatr. 2011;75(3):157-65. doi: 10.1159/000324442. Epub 2011 Feb 22.
The thyroid gland plays a major role in the human body; it produces the hormones necessary for appropriate energy levels and an active life. These hormones have a critical impact on early brain development and somatic growth. At the same time, the thyroid is highly vulnerable to autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs). They arise due to the complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and endogenous factors, and the specific combination is required to initiate thyroid autoimmunity. When the thyroid cell becomes the target of autoimmunity, it interacts with the immune system and appears to affect disease progression. It can produce different growth factors, adhesion molecules, and a large array of cytokines. Preventable environmental factors, including high iodine intake, selenium deficiency, and pollutants such as tobacco smoke, as well as infectious diseases and certain drugs, have been implicated in the development of AITDs in genetically predisposed individuals. The susceptibility of the thyroid to AITDs may come from the complexity of hormonal synthesis, peculiar oligoelement requirements, and specific capabilities of the thyroid cell's defense system. An improved understanding of this interplay could yield novel treatment pathways, some of which might be as simple as identifying the need to avoid smoking or to control the intake of some nutrients.
甲状腺在人体中起着重要作用；它产生适当的能量水平和活跃生活所必需的激素。这些激素对早期大脑发育和躯体生长有至关重要的影响。同时，甲状腺极易受到自身免疫性甲状腺疾病（AITD）的影响。它们是由于遗传、环境和内源性因素的复杂相互作用引起的，并且需要特定的组合来启动甲状腺自身免疫。当甲状腺细胞成为自身免疫的目标时，它与免疫系统相互作用，似乎会影响疾病的进展。它可以产生不同的生长因子、黏附分子和大量细胞因子。可预防的环境因素，包括高碘摄入、硒缺乏以及烟草烟雾等污染物，以及传染病和某些药物，已被认为与遗传易感性个体的 AITD 发展有关。甲状腺易患 AITD 的原因可能来自于激素合成的复杂性、特殊微量元素的需求以及甲状腺细胞防御系统的特定能力。对这种相互作用的更好理解可能会产生新的治疗途径，其中一些可能很简单，例如确定需要避免吸烟或控制某些营养素的摄入。
