[The incidence of the pituitary autoantibodies in Graves' disease].
BACKGROUND
It is known that in the sera of patients with Graves, Addison and other autoimmune endocrine diseases we can detect autoantibodies against pituitary antigens. The aim of the study was evaluation of pituitary autoantibodies in Graves' disease patients using immunoblotting methods.


METHODS
Studies were performed in 32 Graves' disease patients, 25 women (age range: 31-67 yrs, median: 49.9 +/- 9.4) and 7 men (age range: 41-58 yrs, median: 51.0 +/- 7.1). All patients presented signs and symptoms typical of thyrotoxicosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by laboratory tests (TSH, fT(3), fT(4), TSH-R antibodies). Sera of control subjects were obtained from 10 healthy blood donors, 7 women, 3 men (age range 21-45 yrs, median: 30.6 +/- 7.1). Incidence of pituitary autoantibodies was assessed by polyacrylamide electrophoresis gel and western-blotting. Pituitary microsomes were obtained from human pituitary tissues by ultracentrifugation and solubilisation in 1% desoxycholic acid.


RESULTS
In 23 sera from 32 we detected autoantibodies against pituitary microsomal antigens. 16 sera were reacting with 55 kDa antigen, 10 sera with 67 kDa, 6 sera with 60 kDa, 5 sera with 52 kDa and 4 sera with 105 kDa. It is important to note that 6 sera were reacting with 57 and 55 kDa, and 5 sera with 55, 60 and 67 kDa.


CONCLUSIONS
In sera of Graves' disease patients autoantibodies against pituitary microsomal antigens can be frequently detected. The most frequent are antibodies against 55, 60 and 67 kDa antigens.
Gut
Paweł
P
Katedra i Klinika Endokrynologii, Przemiany Materii i Chorób Wewnetrznych, Akademia Medyczna im. K. Marcinkowskiego, Poznań. gutpj@poczta.onet.pl
Kosowicz
Jerzy
J
Ziemnicka
Katarzyna
K
Baczyk
Maciej
M
Sawicka
Joanna
J
Czarnywojtek
Agata
A
Sowiński
Jerzy
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating / Q000097:blood*; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology*; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; C056658:TPO protein, human; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase