An analysis of gastric parietal cell antibodies and thyroid cell antibodies in patients with pernicious anaemia and thyroid disorders

An analysis of immunoglobulins responsible for gastric parietal cell antibodies and for antibodies to thyroid cell has been performed in twenty-four patients with pernicious anaemia and thirteen patients with thyroid disorders. Immunofluorescent technique with conjugated antisera specific to each of the three main immunoglobulins and to β_1c-globulin was used.

IgG-globulin was responsible for gastric parietal cell antibodies in all patients investigated; IgA was found in gastric parietal cell antibodies of four thyroid patients but in none of the pernicious anaemia patients; IgM antibodies were found in two pernicious anaemia patients and in six thyroid patients. With regard to thyroid cell antibodies, IgG and IgA were both found responsible for antibody activity in thirteen cases and IgM in ten cases. In six patients, antibodies to thyroid cell were not β_1c-fixing, whereas all sera with gastric parietal cell antibodies fixed β_1c-globulin.

An obvious relationship could not be found either between the titres of the different types of antibodies within the same category of antibody, or between the titres of gastric parietal cell antibodies and thyroid cell antibodies in the same individual. An occasional relationship was found between the titres of IgG-parietal cell or thyroid cell antibodies and the capacity to bind β_1c-globulin.

These results demonstrate that each of the three main immunoglobulins may contribute to gastric parietal cell antibodies and to antibodies to thyroid cell.