Parietal cell autoantibodies: localization of their binding sites on isolated gastric glands.

The localization of antigens reacting with parietal cell antibodies found in the sera of some patients with pernicious anaemia was studied by the indirect immunoperoxidase method on viable gastric glands isolated from the mouse or human fundus by collagenase digestion. We observed that only the luminal surface of parietal cell bound antibodies, whereas their lateral and basal surfaces were not stained. From this data it is concluded that parietal cell antibodies are unlikely to be cytotoxic in vivo.