Abstract
Few autoantibodies directed against thyroglobulin (TgAbs) have been fully characterized in man. The present study was designed to characterize TgAbs from patients with unusually high titers (> 1: 512) using the tanned red cell hemagglutination technique (TRC). IgG was isolated from the sera of subjects with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (n = 4), subacute thyroiditis (n = 1) and Graves’ disease (n = 1) using DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. Isolated TgAbs were substituted as first antibody in a double antibody thyroglobulin (Tg) RIA and the Ka’s were determined by Scatchard analysis. Molecular ratios of antibody to antigen, TgAb: Tg, were calculated from quantitative precipitin curves. The clonality of each antibody was determined using agarose isoelectric focusing and131 I labeled Tg as an autoradiographic probe. All six TgAbs were polyclonal. The Ka’s were on the order of 109–1010. In two sera TgAb: Tg ratios of 20: 1 and 8: 1 were obtained. These results are significant when compared to previously characterized Tg autoantibodies which have been of low titer, low Ka (105), and have been directed towards a restricted portion of the Tg molecule (TgAb: Tg ratios of 2: 1 to 6:1). In view of their high affinity constants and recognition of a less restricted portion of the Tg molecule, some of the TgAb’s with unusually high titers behave more like Tg heteroantibodies than autoantibodies.
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This work was presented in abstract form at the 9th International Thyroid Congress, Sao Paulo, Brasil 1985.
This work was partially supported by Cancer Research Coordinating Committee Grant No. A850702.
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Costin, A., Klandorf, H., Persselin, J. et al. Characterization of high titer antithyroglobulin antibodies. J Endocrinol Invest 10, 541–546 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03346990
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03346990