Increased plasma levels of soluble programmed death ligand 1 (sPD-L1) and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy in comparison to hyperthyroid patients without Graves' ophthalmopathy

Selwan Khamisi; F Anders Karlsson; Östen Ljunggren; Mans Thulin; Anders Larsson

doi:10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156269

Increased plasma levels of soluble programmed death ligand 1 (sPD-L1) and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy in comparison to hyperthyroid patients without Graves' ophthalmopathy

Cytokine. 2023 Sep:169:156269. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156269. Epub 2023 Jun 10.

Authors

Selwan Khamisi¹, F Anders Karlsson¹, Östen Ljunggren¹, Mans Thulin², Anders Larsson³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
² Department of Statistics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
³ Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: anders.larsson@akademiska.se.

PMID: 37307688
DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156269

Abstract

Background: Management of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is still a challenge in Graves' disease (GD). Moreover, 40% of GD patients show radiological muscle enlargement without clinically apparent GO. Delayed treatment of GO may lead to deterioration in prognosis.

Methods: Thirty GD patients with overt hyperthyroidism were included in this study, 17 of whom either had GO at diagnosis or developed GO during the study period. Samples were collected at the beginning of the study, at 6 months, and at 24 months. Plasma samples were analyzed for 92 cytokines using the Olink Target 96 inflammation panel.

Results: After adjustment for multiplicity testing using the false discovery rate approach, soluble programmed death ligand 1 (sPD-L1) and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) were significantly elevated in GO patients.

Conclusion: Using a broad cytokine panel we show that patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy have elevated PD-L1 and FGF-23 levels. The findings support previous suggestions that PD-L1 may serve as a treatment target.

Keywords: Cytokines; FGF-23; Graves’ disease; Graves’ ophthalmopathy; Humans; Orbit/metabolism/pathology programmed cell death 1 receptor/metabolism; Thyroid associated ophthalmopathy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

B7-H1 Antigen
Fibroblast Growth Factor-23
Graves Disease*
Graves Ophthalmopathy*
Humans
Hyperthyroidism*

Substances

CD274 protein, human
B7-H1 Antigen
Fibroblast Growth Factor-23