Hashimoto thyroiditis in Lebanon: Fibrinogen levels increase and redox homeostasis alteration in euthyroid patients and detection of a new SAA1 “ε” isoform (V52-V57)

Abstract Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), the most common cause of hypothyroidism, is a multifactorial autoimmune condition characterized by elevated levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and/or anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg), and involving both environmental and genetic factors. This study was designed to evaluate the levels of acute phase reactants and the oxidant/antioxidant status among Lebanese HT patients. It also aims to assess the possible association between selected polymorphisms of three genes, Serum amyloid A1 (SAA1), Interleukin 1 beta (IL1B) and Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN), and the occurrence of the disease. The study included 21 patients diagnosed with HT and 22 healthy controls. Fibrinogen, SAA, mannose binging lectin (MBL), C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL1B levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehyde (MDA) and the antioxidant enzyme catalase were assessed using assay kits. SAA1 (+2995C>T and +3010C>T) and IL1B polymorphisms (g. –511C>T, g. –31T>C and g. +3954C>T) were assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-digestion. The IL1RN 86 bp variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) was identified by fragment-size analysis. Fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in HT patients than controls (p