The Study
Differential expression of connexin 43 in human autoimmune thyroid disease.
This study looked at a protein in thyroid tissue from people who already had thyroid disease and compared it to people who had benign growths. It found that the protein was more or less common in sick vs. healthy tissue, but it didn't test if changing the protein caused the disease — it just saw that they happened together.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
This study looked at a protein called connexin 43 that helps thyroid cells talk to each other. It found that in the overactive thyroid disease (Graves'), this protein is more common, but in the underactive one (Hashimoto's), it's less common.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 540 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — this suggests that how thyroid cells communicate might help explain why one autoimmune disease makes you too energetic and another makes you tired.
- 2Cx43 was higher in Graves' disease and lower in Hashimoto's thyroiditis compared to healthy thyroid tissue.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Acta histochemica
Year
2010
Authors
Xiao-yan Jiang, Xiao-hong Feng, Guo-Yan Li, Qian Zhao, Hui-qing Yin
Related Content
Claims (6)
In some people with autoimmune thyroiditis, the immune system's attack on the thyroid gland can lead to either an overactive or underactive thyroid, depending on how much damage has occurred and at what stage.
In people with Graves' disease, a protein called Connexin 43 is found at higher levels in the thyroid, while in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, it is found at lower levels, compared to healthy thyroid tissue. This difference in protein levels is linked to whether the thyroid is overactive or underactive.
In autoimmune thyroid disease, changes in the levels of a protein called connexin 43 are linked to differences in how well the thyroid gland produces and releases hormones.
In two common autoimmune thyroid diseases, Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the levels of a protein called connexin 43 differ in opposite directions, suggesting that how thyroid cells communicate with each other may be fundamentally different in these conditions.
In human thyroid tissue, scientists can detect Connexin 43 at both the protein and genetic message levels, indicating that this protein is present and likely involved in how thyroid cells communicate with each other, as previously observed in animal studies.
Connexin 43 is a protein found in human thyroid cells that helps cells communicate with each other. It is present in both healthy thyroid tissue and tissue affected by autoimmune disease, suggesting its presence is not dependent on disease state.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.