ABSTRACT
Previous studies have shown that freezing and thawing of human thyroid homogenates releases a water-soluble substance which reversibly binds to TSH-receptor antibodies. This substance has been designated long-acting thyroid stimulator absorbing activity (LAA). We now describe a new method for measuring LAA based on the TSH-receptor assay and application of the technique to the study of LAA.
Our results indicate that LAA is a heat-labile glycoprotein which co-elutes with haemoglobin on gel filtration. Furthermore, LAA is retarded by columns of Sepharose–TSH but not by Sepharose coupled to human chorionic gonadotrophin, normal immunoglobulin G or bovine serum albumin, suggesting that LAA contains a binding site for TSH as well as for TSH-receptor antibodies. It would seem therefore that LAA is a water-soluble fragment of the TSH receptor possibly resulting from proteolytic cleavage of the receptor at a site close to the cell surface.
J. Endocr. (1984) 100, 113–118
Significance of Circulating Anti-Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Receptor Antibodies in Patients with Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases