Investigations on the mechanism(s) of the production of anti-thyroid hormone antibodies. 1. Anti-thyroid hormone antibodies in rabbits and mice immunized with human thyroglobulin

Abstract

Recently we reported anti-thyroid hormone antibodies in two cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and one case of Graves' disease. In order to elucidate the immunological mechanism (s) of production of anti-thyroid hormone antibodies, animal studies using outbred rabbits and inbred mice were performed.Two rabbits (TG-1, TG-2) were immunized with human thyroglobulin and bled serially. In both rabbits production of anti-human thyroglobulin and anti-thyroid hormone antibodies such as thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and 3, 3', 5'-triiodothyronine (rT3) were observed. These results suggested to us the presence of the immune response gene (s) which controls the immune response against human thyroglobulin and thyroid hormones.Accordingly, fifteen strains of mice which had different Ig h allotypes and H-2 loci were immunized with human thyroglobulin and antibody activities against human thyroglobulin as well as thyroid hormones were examined. Although there were high and low responders, all strains of mice produced anti-human thyroglobulin antibodies. Among them, some strains of mice were high responders against T4 and T3. There was no high responder against rT3.These experimental results clearly indicate the presence of immune response gene (s) in mice against human thyroglobulin and thyroid hormones. The significance of the genetic control of the immune response against thyroid hormones in relation to the presence of antithyroid hormones antibodies in various thyroidal disorders was discussed.