EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNITY TO THYROTROPIN RECEPTOR

Since the cloning of a full length cDNA encoding the thyrotropin recep tor (TSHr), several laboratories have been actively trying to develop an optimal animal model to understand the pathogenesis of TSHr mediate d autoimmune diseases and have made considerable progress. To date, re sults from our laboratory have indicated that the nature of the antige n, and the adjuvant used for immunization, immunogenetic background of the animal and fine specificities of antibodies elicited might play a n important role in determining the qualitative nature of the antibody response. Although an ideal animal model for either Graves' disease o r primary myxedema is not yet available, ongoing studies in our labora tory and elsewhere hold promise for establishing animal models for var ious TSHr mediated autoimmune diseases in the near future.