Gm PHENOTYPES IN AUTOIMMUNE THYROID DISEASE

Abstract

SUMMARY The Gm phenotype Gm f,b or Gm f,n,b was found in all forty patients with Graves' disease studied, contrasted with thirty‐five out of forty controls and twenty out of thirty‐one patients with thyroiditis. The difference between the two groups with autoimmune thyroid disease was significant. These results suggest that thyroid stimulating antibodies may be allotypically restricted.

Immunogenetics of Graves’ Ophthalmopathy

“…We have also failed to find any association of Graves' disease or ophthalmopathy with the C,, V, and Jy RFLPs tested, although we have previously found an association of the V , RFLP with primary autoimmune hypothyroidism (Weetman et al, 1987). Some reports have suggested an association of particular Gm allotypes with Graves' disease (Farid et al, 1977;Nakao et al, 1980;Kozma et al, 1985) and with an increased risk of ophthalmopathy (Frecker et al, 1986). In contrast other studies have shown no alterations in Gm allotype frequencies in Graves' disease (Adams er al., 1983;Tamai et al, 1985).…”

Genetic Factors in Graves' Ophthalmopathy

“…Gm typing of the sera was performed by the haemagglutination inhibition test on microfolliculation slides (van Loghem el af., 1973) using previously described reagents (Farid et al, 1977).…”

Gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Immunoglobulin G heavy-chain (Gm) allotypes and the immune response to wheat gliadin.

“…Disease susceptibility and organ specificity would be further determined by antigens unique for each disease (e.g., gliadin bound to intestinal mucosal structures in GSE, acetylcholine receptor in myasthenia gravis), the site of antigen encounter and Vregion genes determining antibody specificity. We note that an association between IgCH allotype markers and antiinsulin antibody in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (41), and associations between Gm markers and autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (42), myasthenia gravis (43), and Grave's disease (44,45) recently have been described.…”