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Modulating the Function of the Immune System by Thyrotropin and Thyroid Hormones

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 957

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Graciela Alicia Cremaschi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Faculty of Medical Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1600, 3rd Floor (1107 AAZ), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Interests: thyroid hormone; T-cell lymphoma; thyroxine; T-cell; hypothyroidism
Prof. Dr. Claudia Gabriela Pellizas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba 5000, Argentina
Interests: thyroid hormones; dendritic cells; immunity; immune

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Thyrotropin (TSH), a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, and thyroid hormones (THs), such as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), primarily regulate metabolism and energy balance. However, emerging research highlights their significant influence on immune responses. TSH and THs interact with various immune cells, including T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells, impacting their development, differentiation, and activity. The interplay between thyroid hormones and the immune system is crucial for maintaining immune homeostasis and responding to infections and autoimmune conditions. The dysregulation of thyroid hormone levels can lead to altered immune responses, contributing to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease.

Additionally, thyroid hormone imbalances are linked to increased susceptibility to infections, impaired vaccine responses, and affect the immune component of the tumor microenvironment, thus affecting tumor growth and dissemination. This Special Issue aims to collect research that explores the mechanisms through which TSH and THs influence immune function, their effects on various immune cell types, and the implications for pathology including autoimmune diseases and immunotherapy. By providing a comprehensive overview of the current understanding and highlighting novel insights, this Special Issue seeks to advance the field of immunoendocrinology and foster the development of therapeutic strategies targeting thyroid–immune system interactions.

Prof. Dr. Graciela Alicia Cremaschi
Prof. Dr. Claudia Gabriela Pellizas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • thyrotropin (TSH)
  • thyroid hormones (THs)
  • immune modulation
  • immunology
  • immune
  • autoimmune
  • immunoendocrinology
  • hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis
  • antitumor immune response

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 458 KiB  
Article
Association of Low Free T3 with Disease Presence and Activity in Ankylosing Spondylitis
by Enver Ciftel, Aleksandra Klisic, Bayram Kizilkaya, Osman Cure, Filiz Mercantepe, Sibel Mataraci Karakas and Ana Ninić
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 7862; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167862 - 14 Aug 2025
Viewed by 183
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by axial skeletal involvement and systemic metabolic changes. While inflammation is central to its pathophysiology, the potential role of thyroid hormones, particularly free triiodothyronine (FT3), in disease risk and activity remains underexplored. The objective [...] Read more.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by axial skeletal involvement and systemic metabolic changes. While inflammation is central to its pathophysiology, the potential role of thyroid hormones, particularly free triiodothyronine (FT3), in disease risk and activity remains underexplored. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between serum FT3 levels and both the presence and clinical activity of AS, while also examining other endocrine-metabolic parameters. In this cross-sectional study, 120 AS patients and 117 healthy controls were assessed. Demographic, anthropometric, hematologic, and biochemical parameters were recorded. Disease activity was determined using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), with BASDAI ≥ 4 indicating active disease. Logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and other relevant covariates were applied to identify independent predictors. FT3 levels were significantly lower in AS patients compared to controls (3.25 [3.01–3.58] vs. 3.44 [3.16–3.69] pg/mL, p = 0.037) and in patients with BASDAI ≥ 4 versus BASDAI < 4 (3.20 [2.94–3.48] vs. 3.44 [3.19–3.83] pg/mL, p = 0.004). The reduction was more evident in women, where it reflected disease presence, whereas in men it was associated with high disease activity. Low FT3 independently predicted both AS (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.28–0.92, p = 0.026) and active disease (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.24–0.99, p = 0.047). Lower HDL-C, BMI, and creatinine, and higher leukocyte counts were also associated with AS, but not with disease activity. Low-normal FT3 is independently associated with both the presence and activity of AS, reflecting disease presence in women and disease activity in men. This is the first study to demonstrate this sex-specific association after adjusting for metabolic parameters and multiple covariates, highlighting FT3’s potential as a marker of inflammation-driven metabolic dysregulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modulating the Function of the Immune System by Thyrotropin and Thyroid Hormones)
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