科学家已经找出格雷氏症患者的免疫系统如何攻击甲状腺，英国研究人员并提出深具希望的新疗法，科学家表示这项研究可以促进对于其他自体免疫疾病的理解。包括胰岛素依赖型糖尿病和雷风湿性关节炎，因为这些疾病的免疫系统会错误地攻击正常细胞。
　　皇家伦敦医院的Shamael Waheed医师和其研究组员使用新的分子技术检视格雷氏症患者的记忆，并与健康的人进行比较。他们发现患者的某些记忆被错误的启动了，相关的记忆是那些负责控制细胞死亡的记忆，程控的细胞死亡在这种情况下会自然的发生，并控制甲状腺的大小防止它变得过大。
　　然而这些细胞过度活化会造成免疫系统发动攻击，这是导致格雷氏症的过程，Waheed医师认为未来可以借由控制异常记忆而减缓疾病的发展，她并且建议这项研究可以帮助科学家找出其他自体免疫疾病的疗法。
　　格雷氏症疾病通常影响20和40岁之间的女性，通常以药物治疗或以手术治疗严重的病例，症状包括甲状腺突起、眼睛突出、心悸、体重下降和冒汗。

原文在BBC新闻上,因为BBCIP地址被封的,得不到原文,只好从论坛上摘下,

Gene breakthrough in Grave's disease

　　Scientists have discovered how the immune system attacks the thyroid glands in patients with Grave's disease. The breakthrough, by UK researchers, has prompted hopes of new treatments for people with the condition.
　　The scientists said it could also improve understanding of other autoimmune diseases.
These include insulin-dependent diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, which can also occur when the immune system wrongly attacks normal cells.
　　Dr Shamael Waheed and colleagues at Bart's and the Royal London Hospital used the latest in molecular technology to examine the genes of people with Grave's disease. They compared their genes to those of healthy people without the condition.They found that in patients with the disease some genes had been mistakenly switched on.Switches
The genes involved were those responsible for programmed cell death.
Programmed cell death occurs naturally and, in this case, controls the size of the thyroid gland preventing it from becoming too big.
However, because too many of these cells are switched on they are at risk of being attacked by the immune system.It is this process that causes Grave's disease.Dr Waheed said the finding could one day help patients with the condition.
"This indicates that maybe in the future it will be possible to get some control over these abnormally represented genes, thus slowing down the development of the disease."
She also suggested that it could help scientists trying to find treatments for patients with other autoimmune diseases.
'Pathways'
"Understanding the mechanisms underlying the thyroid cell death will contribute to the understanding of other autoimmune disorders which develop through similar pathways."
Grave's disease usually affects women between the ages of 20 and 40.
It is usually treated by drugs or in severe cases with surgery.
Symptoms can include welling of the thyroid gland at the front of the neck.It can also cause swelling around the eye, palpitations, weight loss and sweating.
The findings were presented at the Society for Endocrinology's annual meeting in London.