Abstracts Health Sciences

Antibodies to pituitary hormones induced by polypeptide hormone therapy.

by Gollapudi G. Murthy

Antibodies, against PGH, PLR and HGH were detected by radioimmunological methods in patients on HGH therapy. The presence of antibodies detectable by 125I PGH was further confirmed by Immunofluorescent method. These antibodies were localized in IgG fraction of serum immunoglobulins. Such antibodies did not neutralize the effect of HGH in the tibia test. Aggregation of HGH and revealed determinants were considered to be responsible for production of such antibodies. Certain commercially available preparations of pitressin were noted to have several contaminating proteins. Antibodies induced by such proteins (eg, PGH, PP) were noted in patients on pitressin therapy and such antibodies were considered to play a possible role in the genesis of hemolytic anemia in a patient. Immunological cross-reactions of pituitary hormones were further studied utilizing antisera of rabbit, guinea-pig and human origin. Heterogenity in such antisera was noted. Antibodies detectable by 125I PLR were noted to partially crossreact with prolactins of other species.