Immunogenetic study of thyroid hormone autoantibodies in a family

Haplotypes of the human major histocompatibility complex (HLA) and immunoglobulin G heavy chain allotype (Gm) were determined in nine members of a family in which three sisters had thyroid hormone autoantibodies (THAA) in serum. Among three sisters with THAA, two of them were hypothyroid and treated with synthetic thyroid hormones (patients nos. 1 and 2). The other remaining sister (patient no. 3) was euthyroid. Light chain allotype (Km) in them was also examined. Three patients had the same two Gm haplotypes. Km (1) allotype was negative in these three patients. HLA haplotypes of patient no. 1 were the same as those of patient no. 2. However, HLA haplotypes of patient no. 3 were completely different from those of patients nos. 1 and 2. The same combination of Gm haplotypes and the absence of Km (1) allotype were not observed in the remaining members without THAA. These results suggest that genes linked to Gm and Km allotypes are associated with the production of THAA at least in our patients.