Research progress of T cell in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is the ocular manifestation of thyroid autoimmune dysfunction.Its clinical feathers mainly include eyelid retraction, proptosis, and ocular movement disorders.TAO is the most common orbital diseases.The pathogenesis of TAO has not been fully elucidated, but researchers generally believe that T cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of TAO.In the early stage of TAO development, a large number of T cells are activated and infiltrated into the retroorbital soft tissue.T cells can be divided into CD4 ⁺ T cells and CD8 ⁺ T cells.CD4 ⁺ T cells play a more central role in TAO.CD4 ⁺ T cells include Th1, Th2, Treg and recently discovered Th17, Th22 and Tfh cells.In target tissues, the complete activation and later function of T cells largely rely on the costimulatory pathways, there needs to unravel the mechanism of these costimulatory pathways in TAO.This paper reviews the recent research progress of T cells and costimulatory signals required for their activation in the pathogenesis of TAO.

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