Antiglobulins and Human Disease

Antiglobulins are a heterogenous group of antibodies possessing specificities for a variety of antigenic sites on the y-globulin molecule. Numerous studies have clearly delineated human antiglobulins cap able of reacting with determinants present on native [1] or altered [2-4] y-globulin or with 'buried' sites exposed by pepsin digestion These different antiglobulins can be separated by differential absorption even when present in the same serum Antiglobulins can be further subdivided by their ability to interact at various temperatures; although most appear to react optimally with their respective antigens at 37 C, certain antiglobulins, referred to as cold-reactive, are detected only when measured at reduced tempera tures The term antiglobulin has become synonymous with antibody to yG since almost all antiglobulins studied thus far react with the yG type of immunoglobulin. However, antiglobulins with specificity for determinants on yG [10], yM Thus, the term antiglobulin should include antibodies which react with immunoglobulins of any class, native or denatured.