Abstract
Identification of the auto-antibody producing cells was attempted by the inununocyte adherence between the antigen coated erythrocytes and the autoantibody producing cells in the peripheral blood, lymph node and spleen of the cases with autoinunune diseases. The reaction was observed under a phase contrast microscope. The methods available for differentiation of antibody producing cells from antibody fixed cells in the on-cell-surface reaction were tested and discussed. The appearance rate of the auto-antibody producing cell was I to 3 per cent in the peripheral. hynmphocytes and 2 to 10 per cent in the lymph node cells. There was no correlation between the serum antibody titer and the number of positive cells. It has been revealed that the positive reaction of SLE is specifically inhibited by anti-IgG (γ-chain specific) serum and that of RA is inhibited by anti-Igbl (μ-chain specific) serum. These data suggest that antibody producing cells of SLE and RA produce IgG and Igbl antibodies, respectively. The present method is based on the “virgin antibody” named by the present authors in 1969. that is, the antibody just produced from the antibody producing cells and not yet combined with antigen.
