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Journals / The Turkish Journal of Ear Nose and Throat / 2026 / Volume: 35 Issue: 1

Roles of Inflammasome and Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Gülten Ateş Uluçay(İstanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology)0000-0001-8675-9031
İsmail Cem Sormaz(İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery)0000-0001-6907-978X
Pages
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Publication Date
2025-03-28
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

This may be achieved by increasing the proinflammatory cytokine levels and decreasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine levels.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome, pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines, and their correlations in the pathogenesis of HT.
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Key Findings & Data:Material and Methods: The pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10), and NLRP-3 levels were analysed with ELISA method from blood samples taken from healthy controls (Group-1) and patients diagnosed with HT (Group-2).
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Conclusion & Impact:This may be achieved by increasing the proinflammatory cytokine levels and decreasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine levels.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Autoimmune disease · Hashimoto’s thyroiditis · inflammasome

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome, pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines, and their correlations in the pathogenesis of HT. Material and Methods: The pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10), and NLRP-3 levels were analysed with ELISA method from blood samples taken from healthy controls (Group-1) and patients diagnosed with HT (Group-2). The Student’s t-test was used to evaluate quantitative data that showed a normal distribution between the two groups, while the Mann-Whitney U test was used for data sets that did not follow a normal distribution. A significance level of p<0.05 was considered acceptable. Results: In Group-2, a significant increase in NLRP-3 levels was observed compared to the Group-1 (p<0.05). A parallel tendency was discernible in TNF-α levels, which demonstrated a significant decline in the Group-2 cohort compared to Group-1 (p<0.01). However, IL-10 levels showed a significant decrease in the Group-2 compared to the Group-1 (p<0.001). Nevertheless, a statistically significant decrease in IL-10 levels was observed in the Group-2 compared to Group-1 (p<0.001). Conclusion: It has been hypothesised that NLRP-3 may play a role in the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases, the loss of immune tolerance, and the formation of inappropriate autoreactive immune responses. This may be achieved by increasing the proinflammatory cytokine levels and decreasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine levels.

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Cite This Article

Uluçay, G. A., Sormaz, İ. C. (2025). Roles of Inflammasome and Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Thyroiditis. The Turkish Journal of Ear Nose and Throat, Volume: 35 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.26650/Tr-ENT.2025.1632649

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