36 HUMAN MONOCLONAL IMMUNOGLOBULINS WITH ANTIBODY-ACTIVITY AGAINST CYTOSKELETON PROTEINS, THYROGLOBULIN, AND NATIVE DNA - IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES AND CLINICAL CORRELATIONS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 62  (2) , 264-270
Abstract
Monoclonal Ig (MIg) (612) were studied for their antibody activity against the following autoantigens: actin, tubulin, thyroglobulin, myosin, myoglobin, fetuin, albumin, transferrin and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Of these 612 MIg, 36 (5.75%) possessed antibody activity. Of these 36, 32 (5.22% of the total) were mainly directed against actin. The 4 others were directed, respectively, against tubulin, myosin, thyroglobulin and dsDNA. The interaction of the MIg with the respective antigen was demonstrated by immunoenzymatic methods with monospecific antisera and by blotting experiments. This interaction in the 12 cases studied was mediated by the dimeric fragment F(ab'')2 of the MIg. The MIg with antitubulin, antithyroglobulin and anti-dsDNA activities were exclusively inhibited by their homologous antigens. Those with antiactin activity were predominantly inhibited by actin and also by tubulin and thyroglobulin. The one binding to myosin was, for the most part, inhibited by myosin and also significantly by actin and tubulin. Retrospective clinical analysis was possible for 31/36 patients. Twenty-six of 31 had malignant lymphoplasmocytic disorders. The 5 others were followed for miscellaneous disorders without overt signs of multiple myeloma (MM) or Waldenstrom''s macroglobulinemia (WM). The correlation between the antibody activity of the MIg and the clinical features is discussed. A high proportion of MIg possess antibody activity against actin (5.22%). This incidence contrasts sharply with the positive reactions found toward all the other antigens tested: only 1 each for dsDNA, tubulin, thyroglobulin and myosin, and none against myoglobulin, fetuin, albumin and transferrin. The significance of these results and the relationship between MIg and natural antibodies are discussed.