Widder J, et al. - This study focused on the immunoregulatory impact of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) in patients with Graves' disease and in normal controls, primarily probing how TGFβ influences the interaction between thyroid epithelial cells and T lymphocytes. A variety of possible TGFβ-exerted down-regulatory influences were seen in Graves' disease. Data indicated that it may be crucial for the suppression of autoaggression in persons predisposed to autoimmunity; may be quantitatively overrun by immunostimulatory influences in the acute phase of the disease, and may be essential for the induction of remission in patients with Graves' disease.