Serum antibodies to human pituitary membrane antigens in patients with autoimmune lymphocytic hypophysitis and infundibuloneurohypophysitis.
OBJECTIVE
Serum antipituitary antibodies were investigated by the immunoblotting method using human anterior pituitary membrane preparation as the antigen.


METHODS
Thirteen patients with autoimmune lymphocytic hypophysitis, two patients with infundibuloneurohypophysitis, four patients with isolated ACTH deficiency, 21 patients with diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2) and 38 healthy subjects were studied.


METHODS
Human pituitary membrane antigens were electrophoresed by sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrimide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The antigens were transferred to polyvinylidene difluoride membrane and reacted with the sera followed by incubation with biotinylated anti-human IgG goat serum.


RESULTS
Serum antibodies to 68, 49, 43 kD human pituitary membrane antigens were detected in five of 13, one of 12 patients with infundibuloneurohypophysitis and none of four patients with isolated ACTH deficiency. These antibodies were not detectable when human thyroid, liver or rat pituitary preparations were used as the antigen.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that serum antibodies to 68, 49, 43 kD human anterior pituitary antigen are specific but not so frequently detected in autoimmune lymphocytic hypophysitis.
Nishiki
M
M
First Division, Department of Medicine, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
Murakami
Y
Y
Ozawa
Y
Y
Kato
Y
Y
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000172:deficiency; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D001681:Biological Assay; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology*
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001323:Autoantibodies; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone