Final answer:
Thyrotropin receptor antibodies are autoantibodies that overstimulate the thyroid by mimicking thyroid-stimulating hormone, leading to conditions like Graves' disease and disrupting thyroid hormone regulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thyrotropin Receptor Antibodies (TRAb)
Thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb) are autoantibodies that target thyroid-stimulating hormone receptors, leading to the overstimulation of the thyroid gland. This can result in conditions like Graves' disease, where TRAb mimic the hormone's action, creating a continuous stimulation that disrupts the normal thyroid hormone feedback loop. Such antibodies may also play a part in thyroid hormone resistance syndromes, where mutations in receptor genes can cause hypothyroidism despite high hormone levels. The thyroid produces hormones T3 and T4, important for metabolic regulation, and TRAb can interfere with this critical function.