Human Monoclonal Autoantibodies That React with Multiple Endocrine Organs

Abstract

MANY human diseases have an autoimmune component. In some, such as myasthenia gravis¹ and Hashimoto's thyroiditis,² the autoimmune response is predominantly organ-specific. In other diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus³ and polyendocrinopathy,^{4 5 6} the autoimmune response is very broad, involving several different organs. For example, in patients with polyendocrine diseases, autoantibodies have been found that react with the pancreas, thyroid, pituitary, and gastric mucosa.^{4 5 6} Because of the low titers of these autoantibodies, as well as the polyclonality of serum, it has been difficult to determine whether there is a variety of autoantibodies, each reacting with a different organ, or whether the . . .