In contrast, FOXP3+Treg lymphocytes play a nonredundant role in the protection against thyroid autoimmunity, as Treg depletion was shown to induce a Th1-dependent form of EAT in mice [20], while diminished Treg cell numbers and attenuated FOXP3 gene expression were found in PBMC of HT patients [7, 8]. Here, FOXP3 is linked to hematocrit.