To clarify the association of functional polymorphisms in the IL12, IL12Rβ1, IL18, SOCS1 and TIM3 genes with the intractability and severity of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), we genotyped these polymorphisms in 151 GD patients, including 61 patients with intractable GD and 51 patients with GD in remission, in 140 HD patients, including 59 patients with severe HD and 55 patients with mild HD, and in 74 healthy controls.
In addition, the mRNA levels of Gal-9 and its ligand TIM-3 were increased in thyroid tissue from AITD patients and its expression was associated with the levels of Th1/Th12/Th17 cytokines.