[Method for detection of antitubulin antibodies. Results of assays in autoimmune thyroid diseases]

A cytoskeletal protein--tubulin was isolated from the cerebral tissue by the sequential microtubule polymerization and depolymerization technique described by Schelansky. The purity of the isolated protein was verified by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The binding reaction with monoclonal antibodies against various cytoskeletal proteins confirmed the presence of pure tubulin. The isolated tubulin was used as reactant in a solid phase radioimmunoassay for the detection of antitubulin antibodies in tubulin-coated plastic tubes. Antitubulin antibody assays were performed in 20 cases of hypothyroidism and 56 cases of Graves' disease. In 70 percent of cases of hypothyroidism and 50 percent of cases of Graves' disease the levels of antitubulin autoantibodies were elevated. The highest titres of antibodies had some patients with Graves' disease. The antitubulin autoantibodies were of the IgM class.