Endocrinol Metab.  2019 Jun;34(2):132-137. 10.3803/EnM.2019.34.2.132.

Natural Killer Cells and Thyroid Diseases

Affiliations
  • 1Center for Thyroid Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
  • 2Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA. sunwoo@stanford.edu

Abstract

Abnormal production of thyroid hormone is one of the common endocrine disorders, and thyroid hormone production declines with age. The aging process also negatively affects the immune system. An interaction between endocrine system and the immune system has been proposed to be bidirectional. Emerging evidence suggests an interaction between a lymphocyte population, called natural killer (NK) cells and thyroid gland function. Here, we review the relationship between NK cells and thyroid function and disease.

Keyword

Killer cells, natural; Thyroiditis; Thyroid cancer, papillary; Anaplastic; Immunotherapy; Programmed cell death 1

MeSH Terms

Aging
Endocrine System
Immune System
Immunotherapy
Killer Cells, Natural*
Lymphocytes
Thyroid Diseases*
Thyroid Gland*
Thyroiditis

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