Precipitating adrenal antibodies, originally described by Andrada et al., are often associated with patients suffering from the moniliasis-polyendocrinopathy syndrome. The syndrome may include contemporarily several organ-specific autoimmune diseases such as hypoparathyroidism. Addison's disease, thyroiditis, pernicious anaemia, gastritis and ovarian failure and often combined with moniliasis and alopecia. These antibodies seem to differ from those demonstrable by immunofluorescence (IFL) and complement fixation. This conclusion was made as the titres of immunofluorescence antibodies did not correlate with the presence or absence of precipitating antibodies (Krohn et al., Clin Immunol Immunopathol 3:59-68, 1974; Heinonen et al., Ann Clin Res 8:262-265 1976). In this study we describe the subcellular localization and distribution of the precipitable adrenal antigens within some animal species. We found two precipitable adrenal antigens; one of them, designated P-antigen (particulate), was found in precipitable form only in the mitochondrial fractions, and the other, designated S-antigen, could be found in all subcellular fractions of some animal species. Bovine and equine S-antigen could be fractionated on a Sephadex G-200 column, revealing also the soluble nature of the S-antigen. The human S-antigen seemed to differ from the animal S-antigen as in addition to one common antigenic determinant (Sc), the human S contained a second determinant (Sh) not present in the animals. There was no difference in the antigenic character of the P-antigen within different species, although this conclusion is mainly based on the absorption studies.

Adrenal Cortex↗

PubMed1976

On the effect of the ionophore X-537a on neuromuscular transmission in the rat.

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Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1976

Effect of prostaglandin E1 on neuromuscular transmission in the rat.

1 The effect of prostaglandin E1 on neuromuscular transmission in the phrenic nerve-diaphragm muscle preparation of the rat was studied with intra- and extracellular recording techniques. 2 Prostaglandin E1, in concentrations from 10 nM, induced intermittent failures in the generation of the end-plate potential in response to repeated indirect stimulation. 3 Failures appeared abruptly, the end-plate potential behaving in an all-or-nothing fashion. The effect occurred only at 36-38 degrees C when the nerve was stimulated at 30-80 Hz and was reversible upon washing with drug-free solution. 4 Since miniature end-plate potentials were not affected, such failures must be attributed to a presynaptic action of prostaglandin E1. 5 Extracellular recording suggested that prostaglandin E1 prevented the action potential from reaching the nerve terminal.

Animals↗

PubMed1976

Variety of determinants in an adrenal antigen common to man and some animals.

Precipitating adrenal antibodies are specifically associated with the moniliasis-polyendocrinopathy syndrome. This may include several simultaneous autoimmune disorders such as Addison's disease, hypoparathyroidism, thyroiditis, pernicious anaemia and ovarian failure often combined with moniliasis and alopecia. The antibodies react with two adrenal specific antigens present in man and in different animals. One of these antigens designated S-(soluble) antigen is present in all subcellular fractions and the other designated P-(particulate) antigen was found in precipitable form only in the mitochondrial fractions. Rabbits immunized with bovine adrenal homogenate and different subcellular fractions, produced three to four adrenal specific antibodies, which were qualitatively identical. The corresponding antigens were designed as S1-S4, one of which (S4) was strictly specific for bovine tissue. S1-, S2- and S3-antigens were identical in bovine and ovine adrenals, whereas a partial reaction of identity was found between ruminants and the S1- and S2-antigens of all other species tested. The S1- and S2-antigens seem to contain a variety of determinants, some common to all the species studied and some limited to certain species only. Of the four S-antigens only one (S1) in rabbits, was found to contain autoantigenic determinants. Comparative studies with sera from patients with the moniliasis-polyendocrinopathy syndrome indicate, that this molecule is the one with which human and rabbit antisera react.

Adrenal Glands↗

PubMed1976

Association of precipitating anti-adrenal anti-adrenal antibodies with moniliasis-polyendocrinopathy syndrome.

The association of precipitating anti-adrenal antibodies with different subgroups of idiopathic Addison's disease were studied. We had previously found these antibodies in patients with the moniliasis-polyendocrinopathy syndrome. Sera of 36 adult patients suffering from different froms of Addison's disease were examined for the presence of adrenal antibodies demonstrable either by immunofluorescence (IFL) or by gel diffusion. 3 of the 17 patients with tuberculous and 17 of 19 patients with idiopathic Addison's disease had IFL antibodies but only one had precipitating antibodies. There was one typical case of Schmidt's syndrome, and four additional cases with Addison's disease combined with diabetes or thyroiditis, who may later develop the syndrome. None of htese patients had precipitating anti-adrenal antibodies. The only patients with precipitating adrenal antibodies had the moniliasis-polyendocrinopathy syndrome. He was not typical as Addison' disease appeared unusually late and he did not have hypoparathyroidism. The presence of precipitating anti-adrenal antibodies in this patient, and the absence of these in other groups of Addison's disease, is further evidence for the association of precipitating antibodies with the moniliasis-polyendocrinopathy syndrome.

Addison Disease↗