THE MITOCHONDRIAL ADENINE-NUCLEOTIDE TRANSLOCATOR IS AN ANTIGEN IN PRIMARY BILIARY-CIRRHOSIS

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  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (3) , 648-654
Abstract
Circulating antibodies reacting specifically with the adenine nucleotide translocator from liver mitochondria were detected in sera from 12 patients with proven primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) by a solid phase double antibody immunoradiometric assay. These antibodies were absorbed with the isolated adenine nucleotide translocator from liver mitochondria. None of the sera from 20 normal individuals, 4 patients with anti-mitochondrial positive pseudolupus syndrome sera (M-3) and 3 patients with syphilis (anti-M-1) had antibodies directed against this protein from inner mitochondrial membrane. The adenine nucleotide translocator as antigen in PBC could clearly be distinguished from the ATPase associated PBC specific M-2 antigen. A well characterized protein from inner mitochondrial membrane has been clearly defined as an autoantigen in primary biliary cirrhosis.