EXTRATHYROIDAL SITES OF AUTOANTIBODY SYNTHESIS IN GRAVES-DISEASE

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 56  (2) , 330-336
Abstract
Several potential sites of thyroid autoantibody production were investigated using tissue obtained at thyroidectomy for Graves'' disease [in the human]. Spontaneous thyroglobulin and microsomal antibody synthesis was measured using a plaque forming cell assay or a short term culture system coupled to a direct enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA): these techniques allow the evaluation of lymphocyte populations which were activated in vivo. Lymphocytes from the cervical lymph nodes, thyroid and bone marrow all contributed to autoantibody production; in contrast no synthesis was demonstrated using cells obtained fom the thymus or peripheral blood. Long term culture of the lymphocytes confirmed these findings. The effect of anti-thyroid treatment, with radioioidne, drugs or surgery, on autoantibody production in Graves'' disease must be viewed in light of these results.