| Abstract: | Objective To investigate the heterogeneity of TSH receptor antibodies of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). Methods Six patients with heterogeneous TSH receptor antibodies were selected. The EBV-transformed B cell clones producing monoclonal anti-thyrotropin receptor antibodies were established from those selected patients. Results 125l-TSHbinding inhibiting immunoglobulin (TBII) values of the 6 patients ranged from 51% to 89%. Thyroid stimulating an tibody (TSAb) existed in patients No. 1,2,4,5 and 6 while only patients No. 1,2 and 3 had thyroid stimulation-blocking an tibody (TSBAb). After EBV-transformation of the peripheral B lymphocytes from those patients, we isolated and characterized 5 B cell clones producing the TBII from patient No. 3 and 4 B cell clones producing TSAb from patient No. 6. Conclusion Autoantibodies against the TSH receptor are polyclonal and consist of heterogeneous populations with both stimulatory and in hibi tory effec ts. |
