Distribution of organ antigens over the surface of thyroid cells as examined by the immunofluorescence test.

The distribution of organ antigens over the surface of suspended human thyroid cells was examined by the indirect immunofluorescence technique using human sera containing thyroid autoantibodies and an anti-HeLa cell serum prepared in the monkey. The latter serum thus contained species antibodies. The human sera were found to give a dotted cell outline suggesting rather coarsely spaced antigens, while the serum containing species antibodies gave an unbroken fluorescent cell outline suggesting a rather continuous sheet of antigens.