Substrate specificity for the detection of autoantibodies to anterior pituitary cells in human sera

Using the indirect immunofluorescence test for the detection of pituitary autoantibodies in human serum, the results obtained with human fetal and non-human pituitary antigens were compared. Of the sera that were positive on human fetal substrate, 4% were recovered with adult baboon, 0% with fetal cymologous, 20% with porcine, 11% with bovine, 11% with ovine, and 7% with rat tissue. The rate of heterophilic antibodies to the above animal substrates was 5% to 14%. In contrast to human adult pituitaries, normal human sera did not bind to Fc receptors on ACTH-cells of human fetal pituitaries. This allowed the demonstration of ACTH-cell antibodies. The specificity of the reaction was proven by absorption studies with purified Fc fragments. These results suggest that human fetal tissue is the best source of antigen for the detection of pituitary autoantibodies. The use of animal tissue including non-human primate pituitary yields results that bear no clinical significance.