Rabbits immunized with thyroid-stimulating hormone produce autoantiidiotypic thyroid-stimulating antibodies.
We immunized rabbits with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to investigate the hypothesis that such immunization could result in production of thyroid-stimulating autoantiidiotypic antibodies to anti-TSH. Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) appeared in the serum of several rabbits after immunization. At 160 d, TSI equivalent to 6-18 microU TSH/1.5 mg IgG was present in two of six human (h)TSH-, two of six hTSH beta chain-, and two of the four surviving bovine (b)TSH-immunized animals. Control (human serum albumin-immunized rabbits) serum TSI was 4.3 +/- 0.4 (mean +/- SD) at this time. Antiidiotypic antibodies that could bind to monoclonal anti-hTSH were found in the sera of the bTSH-immunized rabbits. The peak TSI activity occurred 3 mo after a TSH booster immunization and declined gradually during subsequent weeks. Evidence that antiidiotypic antibodies to anti-TSH can cause thyroid stimulation strengthens the notion that such antibodies may be the cause of Graves' hyperthyroidism.
Beall
G N
GN
Rapoport
B
B
Chopra
I J
IJ
Kruger
S R
SR
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D011817:Rabbits; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000276:immunology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013972:Thyrotropin