THYROGLOBULIN AND MICROSOMAL AUTOANTIBODY PRODUCTION BY CULTURES OF HASHIMOTO PERIPHERAL-BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES

Abstract

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients wtih Hashimoto''s thyroiditis were cultured for 2-3 wk in Marbrook flasks. During this period, readily detectable amounts of thyroglobulin and microsomal antibodies [Ab] were synthesized by the cells and secreted into the culture medium. Gel filtration studies indicated that the auto-Ab produced in culture were of a similar MW to the serum Ab and this provided evidence that auto-Ab synthesis in vitro was representative of auto-Ab synthesis in vivo. This culture technique may be used to make a detailed investigation of the human autoimmune disease process.