Human monoclonal IgM with autoantibody activity against intermediate filaments.

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Abstract
Monoclonal IgM from 2 patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia reacted with intermediate filaments. This was shown by immunostaining of various tissues and cultured cells and immunoglocial characterization of the reactive antigen after blotting or polypeptides separated from total cell extracts by gel electrophoresis or purified intermediate filaments on nitrocellulose sheets. One monoclonal IgM had an activity directed only against vimentin, whereas the other reacted with 4 different classes of intermediate filaments-vimentin, desmin, glial fibrillary protein and keratins. All of the reactivity of the latter IgM was absorbed by purified vimentin, suggesting that different classes of proteins of intermediate filaments share common antigenic determinant(s). The significance of such autoantibody activity of human monoclonal IgM is discussed in light of the startling frequency of IgM antiintermediate filaments antibodies in various diseases.