Serum Anti-Thyroglobulin Autoantibodies Are Specific in Predicting the Presence of Papillary-like Nuclear Features and Lymphocytic Infiltrate in the Thyroid Gland

Daniela Cabibi; Antonino Giulio Giannone; Sandro Bellavia; Roberta Lo Coco; Anna Lo Bianco; Eleonora Formisano; Gregorio Scerrino; Giuseppa Graceffa

doi:10.3390/diagnostics13122042

Serum Anti-Thyroglobulin Autoantibodies Are Specific in Predicting the Presence of Papillary-like Nuclear Features and Lymphocytic Infiltrate in the Thyroid Gland

Diagnostics (Basel). 2023 Jun 13;13(12):2042. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics13122042.

Authors

Daniela Cabibi¹, Antonino Giulio Giannone¹, Sandro Bellavia¹, Roberta Lo Coco¹, Anna Lo Bianco¹, Eleonora Formisano¹, Gregorio Scerrino², Giuseppa Graceffa³

Affiliations

¹ Unit of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Health Promotion Mother and Child Care Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University Hospital AOU Policlinico "P. Giaccone", University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
² Unit of General and Emergency Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University Hospital AOU Policlinico "P. Giaccone", University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
³ Unit of General and Oncological Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University Hospital AOU Policlinico "P. Giaccone", University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.

Abstract

(1) Background: Previous studies have reported a correlation between serum anti-Thyroglobulin-antibodies (TgAb) and papillary thyroid carcinoma. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether serum TgAb and anti-thyroid-peroxidase antibody (TPO) positivity was also related to pre-neoplastic histological changes such as papillary-like nuclear features (PLNF) and with the presence of lymphocytic infiltrate (LI) in thyroid surgical specimens. (2) Methods: The study was retrospectively carried out on 70 consecutively recruited patients who underwent thyroidectomy for benign process and whose TgAb and TPOAb values were retrieved from clinical records. Histological sections of thyroid surgical samples were revised, looking for PLNF and lymphocytic infiltrate. HBME1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. (3) Results: Our results showed a significant association between TgAb, PLNF, and lymphocytic infiltrate. The presence of TgAb was highly specific, but less sensitive, in predicting the presence of PLNF (sensitivity = 0.6, specificity = 0.9; positive predictive value (PPV) = 0.88; negative predictive value (NPV) = 0.63). TgAb positivity showed a good association with the presence of lymphocytic infiltrate (sensitivity = 0.62, specificity = 0.9; PPV = 0.88 and NPV = 0.68). HBME1 immunoreactivity was observed in the colloid of follicles showing PLNF and/or closely associated with LI. (4) Conclusions: The presence of PLNF and LI is associated with serum TgAb positivity. The presence of TgAb and of LI could be triggered by an altered thyroglobulin contained in the HBME1-positive colloid, and could be a first defense mechanism against PLNF that probably represent early dysplastic changes in thyrocytes.

Keywords: anti-TPO; anti-Tg antibodies; anti-Thyroglobulin; thyroid carcinogenesis; thyroid lymphocytic infiltrates; thyroid papillary-like nuclear features.

Grants and funding

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union—NextGenerationEU through the Italian Ministry of University and Research under PNRR—M4C2-I1.3 Project PE_00000019 “HEAL ITALIA” to Prof. Daniela Cabibi CUP B73C220012500. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.