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<article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/" article-type="research-article" dtd-version="1.2" xml:lang="en"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">Kazan medical journal</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title xml:lang="en">Kazan medical journal</journal-title><trans-title-group xml:lang="ru"><trans-title>Казанский медицинский журнал</trans-title></trans-title-group></journal-title-group><issn publication-format="print">0368-4814</issn><issn publication-format="electronic">2587-9359</issn><publisher><publisher-name xml:lang="en">Eco-Vector</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">642165</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.17816/KMJ642165</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="edn">JGADUP</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="toc-heading" xml:lang="en"><subject>Experimental medicine</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="toc-heading" xml:lang="ru"><subject>Экспериментальная медицина</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="article-type"><subject>Research Article</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title xml:lang="en">Effect of mTOR inhibitor on autoimmune thyroiditis</article-title><trans-title-group xml:lang="ru"><trans-title>Влияние ингибитора mTOR на развитие аутоиммунного тиреоидита</trans-title></trans-title-group><trans-title-group xml:lang="zh"><trans-title>mTOR 抑制剂对自身免疫性甲状腺炎发展的影响</trans-title></trans-title-group></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="spin">6842-5993</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Tikhonova</surname><given-names>Anastasia N.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Тихонова</surname><given-names>Анастасия Николаевна</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>student, Depart. of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Pharmacology</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>студент, каф. биохимии, биотехнологии и фармакологии</p></bio><email>askatix@mail.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Burtseva</surname><given-names>Anastasia V.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Бурцева</surname><given-names>Анастасия Владимировна</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>Graduate student, Depart. of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Pharmacology</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>выпускник, каф. биохимии, биотехнологии и фармакологии</p></bio><email>renardtriste00@gmail.com</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9357-3649</contrib-id><contrib-id contrib-id-type="spin">4208-9021</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Tikhomirova</surname><given-names>Maria V.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Тихомирова</surname><given-names>Мария Владимировна</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>Cand. Sci. (Biology), Senior Lecturer, Depart. of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Pharmacology</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>канд. биол. наук, старший преподаватель, каф. биохимии, биотехнологии и фармакологии</p></bio><email>MVTikhomirova@kpfu.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3749-3411</contrib-id><contrib-id contrib-id-type="spin">5293-9741</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Abramova</surname><given-names>Zinaida I.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Абрамова</surname><given-names>Зинаида Ивановна</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>Dr. Sci. (Biology), Professor, Depart. of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Pharmacology</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>д-р биол. наук, профессор, каф. биохимии, биотехнологии и фармакологии</p></bio><email>ziabramova@mail.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib></contrib-group><aff-alternatives id="aff1"><aff><institution xml:lang="en">Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University</institution></aff><aff><institution xml:lang="ru">Казанский (Приволжский) федеральный университет</institution></aff></aff-alternatives><pub-date date-type="preprint" iso-8601-date="2026-03-12" publication-format="electronic"><day>12</day><month>03</month><year>2026</year></pub-date><pub-date date-type="pub" iso-8601-date="2026-04-07" publication-format="electronic"><day>07</day><month>04</month><year>2026</year></pub-date><volume>107</volume><issue>2</issue><issue-title xml:lang="en">Kazan medical journal</issue-title><issue-title xml:lang="ru">Казанский медицинский журнал</issue-title><fpage>210</fpage><lpage>219</lpage><history><date date-type="received" iso-8601-date="2024-11-27"><day>27</day><month>11</month><year>2024</year></date><date date-type="accepted" iso-8601-date="2025-05-05"><day>05</day><month>05</month><year>2025</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement xml:lang="en">Copyright ©; 2026, Eco-Vector</copyright-statement><copyright-statement xml:lang="ru">Copyright ©; 2026, Эко-Вектор</copyright-statement><copyright-statement xml:lang="zh">Copyright ©; 2026,</copyright-statement><copyright-year>2026</copyright-year><copyright-holder xml:lang="en">Eco-Vector</copyright-holder><copyright-holder xml:lang="ru">Эко-Вектор</copyright-holder><ali:free_to_read xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/" start_date="2029-04-07"/><license><ali:license_ref xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/">https://eco-vector.com/for_authors.php#07</ali:license_ref></license></permissions><self-uri xlink:href="https://kazanmedjournal.ru/kazanmedj/article/view/642165">https://kazanmedjournal.ru/kazanmedj/article/view/642165</self-uri><abstract xml:lang="en"><p><bold>BACKGROUND:</bold> In autoimmune thyroiditis, hormone replacement therapy generally does not inhibit the activity of autoreactive T lymphocytes destroying the thyroid gland and promoting the antithyroid antibody response at the early stages of the disease.</p> <p><bold>AIM:</bold> This work aimed to find an approach aimed at suppressing the autoimmune reaction in autoimmune thyroiditis.</p> <p><bold>METHODS:</bold> Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) was induced by double (at day 1 and day 14) thyroglobulin immunization of 15 weeks old C57BL/6 mice using complete and incomplete Freund’s adjuvant. Experimental animals were given a 0.05% NaI solution during feeding. The mice were divided into three groups; group 1 included intact mice (<italic>n</italic> = 5), group 2 included mice with induced EAT (<italic>n</italic> = 7), and group 3 included mice with induced EAT and subsequently administered sirolimus (<italic>n</italic> = 7). CD4<sup>+</sup>, CD8<sup>+</sup>, double-positive and double-negative T lymphocytes, and CD4<sup>+</sup>CD25<sup>+</sup>FoxP3<sup>+</sup> T cell levels were determined using flow cytometry. Follicle destruction was measured by hematoxylin and eosin staining and the apoptosis was measured by staining with active caspase-3 antibodies. Thyroid antibodies were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical processing was performed using one-way ANOVA and Student’s <italic>t</italic>-test (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05); data were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Distribution normality was tested using the Shapiro–Wilk and Bartlett tests.</p> <p><bold>RESULTS:</bold> In the EAT group, the mTOR protein inhibitor (sirolimus) prevented thymus involution, increased the number of thymic regulatory T cells, and suppressed the secretion of IFN-γ and IL-17A cytokines. The inhibitor reduced lymphoid infiltration (D<sub>450</sub> = 0.25) compared to mice with EAT (D<sub>450</sub> = 2.4) and cellular apoptosis (D<sub>450</sub> = 0.005 vs 0.0125 in the EAT group). This, in turn, resulted in lower levels of thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (D<sub>450</sub> = 3.0 compared to 19 in the experimental group). Therefore, sirolimus suppresses the autoimmune reaction by activating regulatory T immunity.</p> <p><bold>CONCLUSION:</bold> Sirolimus helps reduce the autoimmune aggression, improve the thyroid gland structure, and mitigate the severity of the disease.</p></abstract><trans-abstract xml:lang="ru"><p><bold>Обоснование</bold>. При аутоиммунном тиреоидите заместительная гормональная терапия, как правило, не устраняет активность аутореактивных Т-лимфоцитов, приводящих к разрушению щитовидной железы и образованию антитиреоидных антител на ранних стадиях заболевания.</p> <p><bold>Цель исследования</bold>. Поиск подхода, направленного на подавление аутоиммунного процесса при аутоиммунном тиреоидите.</p> <p><bold>Методы</bold>. Экспериментальный аутоиммунный тиреоидит (ЭАТ) моделировали путём иммунизации мышей линии C57BL/6 (возраст 15 нед) тиреоглобулином дважды: на 1-е и 14-е сутки с использованием полного и неполного адъюванта Фрейнда. Экспериментальным животным при кормлении давали 0,05% раствор NaI. Мышей разделили на три группы: 1-я — интактные (n=5), 2-я — после индукции заболевания (n=7), 3-я — после индукции заболевания и введения сиролимуса (n=7). Методом проточной цитометрии определяли количество CD4<sup>+</sup>, CD8<sup>+</sup>, дважды положительных и дважды негативных Т-лимфоцитов, а также CD4<sup>+</sup>CD25<sup>+</sup>FoxP3<sup>+</sup> Т-клеток. Степень разрушения фолликул устанавливали по окрашиванию гематоксилином и эозином, уровень апоптоза — по окрашиванию антителами к активной каспазе-3. Уровень тиреоидных антител определяли методом иммуноферментного анализа. Статистический анализ выполняли с помощью однофакторного дисперсионного анализа и парного t-теста (<italic>р</italic> &lt; 0,05); данные представляли как среднее ± стандартное отклонение (SD). Нормальность распределения проверяли тестами Шапиро–Уилка и Бартлетта.</p> <p><bold>Результаты</bold>. В группе с ЭАТ ингибитор белка mTOR — сиролимус — предотвращал инволюцию тимуса, увеличивал количество тимических Т-регуляторных клеток и подавлял секрецию цитокинов IFN-γ и IL-17A. Применение ингибитора снижало уровень лимфоидной инфильтрации (D<sub>450</sub>=0,25) по сравнению с мышами ЭАТ (D<sub>450</sub>=2,4), а также уровень клеточного апоптоза (D<sub>450</sub>=0,005 против 0,0125 в группе ЭАТ). Это, в свою очередь, приводило к снижению аутоантител к тиреопероксидазе: D<sub>450</sub>=3,0 по сравнению с 19 в экспериментальной группе. Таким образом, сиролимус подавляет активацию аутоиммунного процесса через запуск Т-регуляторного иммунитета.</p> <p><bold>Заключение</bold>. Сиролимус способствует снижению уровня аутоиммунной агрессии и улучшению структуры щитовидной железы, что приводит к снижению тяжести заболевания.</p></trans-abstract><trans-abstract xml:lang="zh"><p><bold>论证</bold>：自身免疫性甲状腺炎（AIT）患者通常仅接受甲状腺激素替代治疗，然而该疗法难以抑制自身反应性 T 淋巴细胞的活性。这些细胞在疾病早期通过诱导甲状腺组织损伤及促进抗甲状腺抗体的产生，导致病理过程持续进展。</p> <p><bold>目的</bold>：研究目的： 本研究旨在探索一种能够有效抑制自身免疫性甲状腺炎免疫反应的新疗法，为阻断其病理进程提供新的干预策略。</p> <p><bold>方法</bold>：实验性自身免疫性甲状腺炎（EAT）模型的建立与分组： 选用 15 周龄 C57BL/6 小鼠，通过两次皮下注射甲状腺球蛋白（第 1 天及第 14 天）建立 EAT 模型。注射过程中使用完全及不完全弗氏佐剂。实验小鼠饮水中添加 0.05% 的 NaI 溶液以诱导发病。小鼠随机分为 3 组：对照组（<italic>n</italic>=5）、模型组（即疾病诱导组，<italic>n</italic>=7）及西罗莫司干预组（<italic>n</italic>=7）。流式细胞术检测： 采用流式细胞术检测小鼠脾脏中 CD4<sup>+</sup>、CD8<sup>+</sup>、双阳性及双阴性T 淋巴细胞的比例，以及 CD4<sup>+</sup>CD25<sup>+</sup>FoxP3<sup>+</sup> 调节性 T 细胞的水平。组织学及检测指标： 通过苏木精-伊红染色评估甲状腺滤泡的损伤程度；使用活性 Caspase-3 抗体免疫组化染色检测细胞凋亡水平；采用酶联免疫吸附试验测定血清甲状腺自身抗体水平。统计学分析： 采用单因素方差分析及配对 t 检验进行数据分析。数据以均数 ± 标准差 (x̄ ± s) 表示。正态性检验采用 Shapiro-Wilk 检验，方差齐性采用 Bartlett 检验。以 <italic>p</italic>&lt;0.05 为差异具有统计学意义。</p> <p><bold>结果</bold>：实验结果显示，mTOR 抑制剂西罗莫司能有效预防 EAT 小鼠胸腺萎缩，增加胸腺内调节性 T 细胞的数量，并抑制 IFN-γ 和 IL-17A 等炎性细胞因子的分泌。与 EAT 模型组相比，西罗莫司治疗组的淋巴细胞浸润程度显著降低（D<sub>450</sub> = 0.25 vs 2.4），细胞凋亡水平亦明显下降（D<sub>450</sub> = 0.005 vs 0.0125）。此外，治疗组血清中抗甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体水平显著降低（D<sub>450</sub> = 3.0 vs 19）。综上所述，西罗莫司可通过诱导调节性 T 细胞免疫反应，有效抑制实验性自身免疫性甲状腺炎的病理进展。</p> <p><bold>结论</bold>：西罗莫司通过抑制自身免疫攻击及改善甲状腺组织结构，有效减轻了实验性自身免疫性甲状腺炎的严重程度。本研究结果表明，mTOR 抑制剂在缓解自身免疫性甲状腺炎及其病理损伤方面具有明确的临床应用潜力。</p></trans-abstract><kwd-group xml:lang="en"><kwd>autoimmune thyroiditis</kwd><kwd>lymphocytes</kwd><kwd>apoptosis</kwd><kwd>sirolimus</kwd><kwd>thyroid gland</kwd><kwd>experimental autoimmune thyroiditis</kwd></kwd-group><kwd-group xml:lang="ru"><kwd>аутоиммунный тиреоидит</kwd><kwd>лимфоциты</kwd><kwd>апоптоз</kwd><kwd>сиролимус</kwd><kwd>щитовидная железа</kwd><kwd>экспериментальный аутоиммунный тиреоидит</kwd></kwd-group><kwd-group xml:lang="zh"><kwd>自身免疫性甲状腺炎</kwd><kwd>淋巴细胞</kwd><kwd>细胞凋亡</kwd><kwd>西罗莫司</kwd><kwd>甲状腺</kwd><kwd>实验性自身免疫性甲状腺炎</kwd></kwd-group><funding-group><award-group><funding-source><institution-wrap><institution xml:lang="ru">Российский научный фонд</institution></institution-wrap><institution-wrap><institution xml:lang="en">Russian Science Foundation</institution></institution-wrap></funding-source><award-id>23-25-00443</award-id></award-group><funding-statement xml:lang="en">The study was funded by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (RSF grant No. 23-25-00443). The funding organizations imposed no restrictions on data utilization or the dissemination of study findings.</funding-statement><funding-statement xml:lang="ru">Исследование проведено с использованием денежных средств гранта Российского научного фонда (грант РНФ № 23-25-00443). Финансирующие организации не устанавливали ограничений на использование данных и распространение результатов исследования.</funding-statement></funding-group></article-meta></front><body></body><back><ref-list><ref id="B1"><label>1.</label><mixed-citation>Boutzios G, Koukoulioti E, Goules AV, et al. Hashimoto thyroiditis, anti-parietal cell antibodies: associations with autoimmune diseases and malignancies. Front endocrinol. 2022:(13):860880. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.860880 EDN: DHQORA</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="B2"><label>2.</label><mixed-citation>Ralli M, Angeletti D, Fiore M, et al. 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