Thyroid stimulating activity of rabbit antibodies toward the human thyrotropin receptor peptide.

We have produced antibodies against a peptide corresponding to the unique N-terminal segment (amino acid residues 29-57) in the extracellular domain of the human thyrotropin (TSH) receptor by immunizing it to rabbits, and evaluated for their thyroid stimulating antibody (TSAb), thyroid stimulation blocking antibody (TSBAb) and TSH-binding inhibitor immunoglobulin (TBII) activities. Antibody raised in rabbit B showed significant TSAb activity but not TSBAb activity. In contrast, antibody raised in rabbit A lacked TSAb activity but possessed TSBAb activity. None of these antibodies had TBII activity. These results indicate that TSH receptor antibody can successfully mimic the action of TSH and also suggest that the N-terminal region of TSH receptor is substantially associated with both TSAb and TSBAb activities, but not parallel to TBII activity.