Pathogenic TSHR antibodies induced in mice by TSHR A-subunit DNA immunization also recognize inactive A-subunits.

Sera from 29 CXB recombinant inbred mice from a previous study (11) were randomly selected for TBI positivity following immunization with adenovirus coding for the human TSHR A-subunit (A). TBI values for sera from six mice injected with control adenovirus are shown in Panel B. Values above the dashed horizontal line (15% TSH binding inhibition) indicate unequivocal TBI positivity. The same sera were tested by ELISA for antibodies to purified, inactive A-subunits (C and D). The threshold for ELISA positivity (OD 0.1) is indicated by the horizontal dashed line.