[Migration inhibition of mononuclear cells in idiopathic adrenal insufficiency. Inhibition of migration of mononuclear cells with adrenal microsomes and blocking of the reaction by adrenal antibodies (author's transl)].

In 19 patients with idiopathic adrenal insufficiency and in 19 controls, cellular (as measured by the migration inhibition test) and humoral (by means of immunoflourescence) immune reaction to adrenal antigens were investigated. Significant inhibition of migration was observed in 12 patients with adrenal microsomes; migration of mononuclear cells was however within normal range in 18 out of 19 controls. Adrenal antibodies could be detected in 11 (53%) of the patients. In a further series of investigations adrenal microsomes have been preincubated with specific antibody and used in migration inhibition tests. The migration indices observed with microsomes were compared to those obtained with microsomes preincubated with adrenal antibody. Migration inhibition with microsomes could be blocked by antibody in almost all antibody-positive patients. No uniform trend on the migration of mononuclear cells was found in the antibody-negative patients. A blocking of the cellular immune reaction by specific antibody seems likely. Possible mechanisms which could lead to such phenomena as well as the biologic significance of adrenal antibodies are discussed.