Genetic variation of the gene encoding for the only human enzyme of the T2 ribonucleases family (RNASET2) emerged in genome-wide association studies as a putative risk hotspot for Graves’ disease (GD). T2 ribonucleases activities include immune regulation, induction of cell apoptosis and differentiation. Several reports supported the hypothesis that RNASET2 represents a “danger” message addressed to the innate immune system in peculiar conditions. This was a longitudinal, case- control study. RNASET2 protein levels were assessed in blood samples from 34 consecutive newly diagnosed GD patients and in healthy controls. At enrollment, RNASET2 levels were significantly higher in GD patients (98.5±29.1ng/ml) compared to healthy controls (72.5 ± 27.9 ng/ml, p = 0.001). After 6 months of methimazole treatment, RNASET2 levels significantly decrease and return to levels similar to healthy controls (62.4 ± 22 ng/ml, p = 0.69). These preliminary results suggest that RNASET2 is overexpressed in patients with GD and might represent an “alarm signal” generated by thyroid cells in response to endogenous or environmental stress to alert the immune system.

A potential role of human RNASET2 overexpression in the pathogenesis of Graves’ disease

Daniela Gallo
;
Annarosaria De Vito;Rossella Roncoroni;Antonino Bruno;Eliana Piantanida;Luigi Bartalena;Maria Laura Tanda;Lorenzo Mortara;Francesco Acquati
2023-01-01

Abstract

Genetic variation of the gene encoding for the only human enzyme of the T2 ribonucleases family (RNASET2) emerged in genome-wide association studies as a putative risk hotspot for Graves’ disease (GD). T2 ribonucleases activities include immune regulation, induction of cell apoptosis and differentiation. Several reports supported the hypothesis that RNASET2 represents a “danger” message addressed to the innate immune system in peculiar conditions. This was a longitudinal, case- control study. RNASET2 protein levels were assessed in blood samples from 34 consecutive newly diagnosed GD patients and in healthy controls. At enrollment, RNASET2 levels were significantly higher in GD patients (98.5±29.1ng/ml) compared to healthy controls (72.5 ± 27.9 ng/ml, p = 0.001). After 6 months of methimazole treatment, RNASET2 levels significantly decrease and return to levels similar to healthy controls (62.4 ± 22 ng/ml, p = 0.69). These preliminary results suggest that RNASET2 is overexpressed in patients with GD and might represent an “alarm signal” generated by thyroid cells in response to endogenous or environmental stress to alert the immune system.
2023
2022
Graves’ disease, Ribonuclease T2 protein family, RNASET2, Cellular immunity, Autoimmunity, Alarmin
Gallo, Daniela; DE VITO, Annarosaria; Roncoroni, Rossella; Bruno, Antonino; Piantanida, ELIANA ANGELA ROSA; Bartalena, Luigi; Tanda, MARIA LAURA PIERA; Mortara, Lorenzo; Acquati, Francesco
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11383/2140631
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