Introduction:
We previously reported a high thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAb) prevalence in healthy Sri Lankans after iodine supplementation. In the present study 58 TgAb-positive schoolgirls were followed up after 5 years of continued iodination. The objectives were:(1) to observe the longitudinal profile of TgAb epitope specificities and (2) to examine the relationship between these specificities and the course of thyroid autoimmunity in this population.
Methods:
Paired subjects’ sera (at onset and at 5-year follow-up) were tested for TgAb, thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and TgAb epitope-specificity. Epitope reactivity was determined by employing a panel of 10 murine monoclonal antibodies (Tg-mAbs) directed against 6 Tg antigenic clusters (I–VI) in competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reactions with test sera.
Results:
The overall pattern of epitope recognition in individual subject’s…