REACTIVITY OF RHEUMATOID FACTOR WITH AUTOLOGOUS IGG ANTIBODIES

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and normal subjects were immunized with sheep cell stromata. The isolated rheumatoid factor (RF) from 6 patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed reactivity with autologous IgG anti‐sheep cell antibody coated onto sheep erythrocytes, whereas the whole serum failed to agglutinate antibody coated cells. The Gm type of the antibody, denaturation, and antigen‐antibody complex formation could be excluded as factors leading to autoreactivity. Inhibition studies suggested that RF has a greater affinity for autologous native IgG than for isologous IgG. Copyright © 1969 American College of Rheumatology