More than 600 monoclonal antiviral antibodies made against 11 different viruses were screened against 14 different organs from normal uninfected mice. Of these antiviral antibodies, 21, or approximately 3.5%, reacted with specific cells in these organs. Several of these antibodies were of the multiple-organ-reactive type and recognized antigens in more than one organ. It was concluded that the reactivity of monoclonal antiviral antibodies with normal tissues is a common phenomenon.
The Ku complex, a heterodimer of 86-and 70-kD proteins, is a nuclear DNA-binding autoantigen. However, hydrophobicity analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of the 70-kD protein had strongly suggested that this might also be a membrane protein. In the present study, using antibodies to synthetic peptides and a polyclonal antiserum to the purified protein, we show that the 70-kD protein of the Ku complex is present in isolated plasma membranes of human cells. By indirect immunofluorescence microscopy and fluorescein-activated cell sorting, we demonstrate that this autoantigen is exposed on the cell surface. In addition, we have identified several domains of the protein that are exposed. Our study provides one of the first demonstrations of a eukaryotic, nuclear DNA-binding protein that is also on the cell membrane. Moreover, our results might help explain how autoantibodies to the Ku autoantigen could target cells for an autoimmune attack. (J. Clin.
Mice infected with reovirus type 1 developed a mild thyroiditis characterized by focal destruction of acinar tissue, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and autoantibodies to thyroglobulin and microsomal antigens. Thyroid involvement appears to be part of a more generalized virus-induced polyendocrine disease.
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