Distribution of Certain Autoantibodies in Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins

Abstract

Five autoanti-bodies were studied in 145 pairs of predominantly healthy young twins: thyroid "microsomal" antibody, gastric parietal cell antibody, and antinuclear factory by indirect immunofluorescence techniques, anti-hydroglobulin by tanned red cell agglutination, and rheumatoid factor by the Hyland latex (RA) test. Analysis of the concordance rates in monozygotic and dizygotlc twin pairs suggests that in healthy people the predisposition to form these autoantibodies is largely governed by environmental factors rather than genetic influences.