35S-sulfate uptake by mouse harderian gland: Effect of serum from patients with Graves' disease

Abstract

Sera from patients with Graves' disease, some having ophthalmopathy, were tested for an effect on the 35S-sulfate uptake by the mouse harderian gland and for the presence of the long-acting thyroid stimulator (LATS). For both tests a twofold concentrate of serum globulin was prepared by precipitation with ammonium sulfate. Of sera from 15 patients with ophthalmopathy, globulin from nine enhanced 35S-sulfate uptake significantly as compared with the effect of globulin from normal human serum. Serum globulin from only one of nine patients with Graves' disease without ophthalmopathy gave a similar result. The activity was found in IgG purified by anion-exchange chromatography. LATS assay of the serum globulin fraction was positive with 12 of the 24 sera but coincided with the harderian-stimulating activity in only four instances. It is concluded that there is a factor, distinct from LATS, in the gamma globulin fraction of serum of patients with ophthalmopathy of Graves' disease that stimulated radiosulfate uptake by the harderian gland of the mouse; the relevance of these data to ophthalmopathy of Graves' disease is discussed.