Q. A 35-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with a 2-week history of fever, sore throat, and fatigue. She reports that her throat is painful and swollen, and she has difficulty swallowing. She also complains of an “achy pain” in her neck and jaw that has been worsening over the past several days. The patient states she has been feeling anxious and nervous, and has also lost weight. On physical examination, the patient's thyroid is swollen, tender, and slightly warm to the touch. There is also diffuse erythema of the skin overlying the thyroid. Her temperature is 37.5 degrees Celsius (99.5 degrees Fahrenheit), pulse is 110/min, and her blood pressure is 130/70 mm Hg. Blood work demonstrates an elevated ESR, CRP, T3, and T4, as well as low TSH levels. What is the most likely underlying mechanism of this patient's condition?