Related Experiment Videos
Autoantibodies interacting with purified native thyrotropin receptor
1INSERM U135 Hormones et Reproduction and Laboratoire d'Homonologie et de Biologie Moléculaire, AP-HP, Hôpital Bicêtre, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.
European Journal of Biochemistry
|October 16, 1999
Summary
Anti-thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) autoantibodies are present in both Graves' disease patients and healthy individuals. However, Graves' disease is characterized by specific activating autoantibodies targeting the TSHR.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Autoantibodies against the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) are implicated in Graves' disease.
- Previous hypotheses suggested these autoantibodies are unique to Graves' disease patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics and prevalence of anti-TSHR autoantibodies in Graves' disease and healthy subjects.
- To differentiate between total anti-TSHR antibodies and receptor-stimulating autoantibodies (TSAb).
Main Methods:
- Purification of native TSHR using immunoaffinity chromatography.
- Development of an ELISA for detecting anti-TSHR autoantibodies.
- Assay for receptor-stimulating autoantibodies (TSAb) measuring cAMP synthesis in transfected cells.
Main Results:
- Anti-TSHR autoantibodies were detected in most untreated Graves' disease patients and a significant proportion of healthy volunteers.
- Autoantibodies recognized conformational epitopes on the native TSHR ectodomain, specifically the protein backbone.
- Receptor-stimulating autoantibodies (TSAb) were exclusively found in Graves' disease patients and were responsible for disease activity.
Conclusions:
- The presence of anti-TSHR autoantibodies is not exclusive to Graves' disease; they also occur in euthyroid individuals.
- Graves' disease is distinguished by the presence of activating TSAb that target specific TSHR epitopes involved in receptor activation.