A specific IgG in Graves' ophthalmopathy and its relation to retro-orbital and thyroid autoimmunity.
- 21 April 1984
- Vol. 288 (6425) , 1183-1186
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.288.6425.1183
Abstract
An IgG (ophthalmopathic immunoglobulin) that binds to retro-orbital antigen was identified in serum from patients with active Graves' ophthalmopathy, and its nature and specificity were investigated. Dose related binding of this immunoglobulin to retro-orbital antigens prepared from guinea pig harderian gland or porcine eye muscle was found, which could be abolished by prior incubation with antigen. The immunoglobulin did not bind to thyroid membranes, thyroid microsomes, or thyroglobulin or interact with liver, skeletal muscle, or fat membranes. Serum with high activity of thyrotrophin binding inhibiting immunoglobulin did not react with retro-orbital antigen, and this activity was not affected by preincubation of the serum with retro-orbital antigen. Thyroid stimulating hormone was also without effect on retro-orbital antigen. It is concluded that Graves' ophthalmopathy is associated with a specific ophthalmopathic immunoglobulin that reacts with retro-orbital antigen as distinct from thyroid antigens, and that the autoimmune response is directed towards retro-orbital antigens. This suggests that the ophthalmopathy is an entity distinct from autoimmune thyroid disease.This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- DEMONSTRATION OF A CIRCULATING AUTOANTIBODY AGAINST A SOLUBLE EYE-MUSCLE ANTIGEN IN GRAVES' OPHTHALMOPATHYThe Lancet, 1982
- Comparison of human and porcine thyroid membranes for radioreceptor assay of bovine thyrotrophin and thyrotrophin-binding inhibiting immunoglobulinsJournal of Endocrinology, 1982
- The preparation of thyroid microsomal antigen for use in the indirect micro-ELISA method for the detection of anti-thyroid microsomal autoantibodyClinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry, 1982
- Autoantibodies to the Human Thyrotropin Receptor Are Not Species SpecificJournal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1981
- THYROID BINDING ANTIBODIES AND OTHER IMMUNOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES IN PATIENTS WITH GRAVES’OPHTHALMOPATHY: EFFECT OF TREATMENT WITH CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDEClinical Endocrinology, 1979
- The pathogenesis of Graves' disease: An overviewClinics in Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1978
- Identification of Subgroups of Euthyroid Graves's OphthalmopathyNew England Journal of Medicine, 1977
- THYROID-STIMULATING IMMUNOGLOBULINS IN GRAVES' DISEASEThe Lancet, 1974
- Retrobulbar Modifications in Experimental Exophthalmos: The Effect of Thyrotropin and an Exophthalmos-Producing Substance Derived from Thyrotropin on the35SO4Incorporation and Glycosaminoglycan Content of Harderian GlandsEndocrinology, 1973
- Studies of homologous immunization with mouse harderian glandMetabolism, 1971