The antibody molecule in chronic nonspecific thyroiditis: Electrophoretic patterns of serum

1. 1. Serum from humans with chronic nonspecific thyroiditis showed some abnormalities of protein distribution. Of 37 sera, all proved serologically to contain thyroid antibody; the following incidence of elevated (beyond 2 standard deviations) levels occurred: 10 (27 per cent) for γ-globulin, 6 (16 per cent) for β-globulin, 17 (46 per cent) for α₂-globulin, and 10 (27 per cent) for α₁-globulin. One sample showed an increase in γ₁-globulin. Albumin was lowered in 12 (32 per cent) of the sera, 2. 2. Serum from humans with struma lymphomatosa also showed some peculiarities of electrophoretic distribution, although all were serologically negative. Of 14 sera, 8 (57 per cent) were elevated in γ-globulin, whereas 5 (36 per cent) were increased in α₂-globulin. No abnormality was found in β- or α₁-globulin or albumin. 3. 3. Three sera were fractionated by means of continuous flow paper electrophoresis. One had exhibited increase in γ₁-globulin; the other 2 in α₂-globulin. In all 3 sera, the antibody, as judged by tanned cell hemagglutination, was identified as a γ₂-globulin.