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Zoological specificity of human thyroid-stimulating antibody
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|August 1, 1978
Summary
Graves' disease thyroid-stimulating antibody (TSAb) cross-reacts with non-human thyroids. This immunoglobulin stimulates various animal thyroids, indicating shared antigenic similarities with human thyroid molecules.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
- Zoology
Background:
- Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the presence of thyroid-stimulating antibody (TSAb).
- The zoological specificity of TSAb has implications for understanding its mechanism of action and potential cross-reactivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the zoological specificity of human TSAb by assessing its effects on thyroid tissues from various species.
- To determine if TSAb can stimulate non-human thyroids and explore the correlation between potency and cross-reactivity.
Main Methods:
- TSAb was isolated from Graves' disease patient sera via IgG precipitation.
- Thyroid stimulation was assayed by measuring cAMP concentration in tissue slices (dog, guinea pig, calf, human) or via an in vivo bioassay for LATS (mouse).
Main Results:
- All tested TSAb preparations stimulated human thyroid tissue.
- 13 of 33 preparations were LATS-positive.
- Variable stimulation occurred in non-human thyroids: 14/27 dogs, 8/23 guinea pigs, 12/16 calves.
- Higher potency TSAb in human assays correlated with increased likelihood of stimulating other species' thyroids, though exceptions were noted.
Conclusions:
- Human TSAb exhibits cross-reactivity with thyroids of various non-human species.
- This cross-reactivity suggests that the antigen recognized by TSAb shares structural similarities across species.
- The findings support the hypothesis that TSAb interacts with a conserved antigenic determinant on the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor.