Anti-LC1 autoantibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Abstract

UNLABELLED:

Various autoantibodies have been reported in patients chronically infected by hepatitis C virus. 2% to 10% of theses patients have anti-liver-kidney microsome type 1 (anti-LKM1) autoantibodies. In type 2 autoimmune hepatitis, anti-LKM1 autoantibodies are frequently associated with anti-liver-cytosol type 1 (anti-LC1) autoantibodies.

AIMS:

To determine the prevalence of anti-LC1 autoantibodies in a hepatitis C-positive population and characterize their reactivity.

METHODS:

146 patients suffering from liver diseases, of which 99 were chronically infected by hepatitis C virus, were tested by Western blotting and immunoprecipitation to detect and characterize anti-LC1 autoantibodies.

RESULTS:

12% of this hepatitis C population had anti-LC1 autoantibodies. LC1 positivity by Western blotting was 30% of LC1+ sera. Epitopes were found throughout the protein but linear epitopes were situated in the 395-541 amino acid region of formiminotransferase cyclodeaminase. Three putative conformational epitopes were identified by phage display.

CONCLUSIONS:

Anti-LC1 autoantibodies are as prevalent as anti-LKM1 autoantibodies in patients infected with hepatitis C virus and their production is not dependent of anti-LKM1 autoantibodies formation. Autoantibody reactivity against the anti-LC1 antigen is different in hepatitis C than in type 2 autoimmune hepatitis. Anti-LC1 autoantibodies can now be regarded as a serological marker of autoimmunity in chronic hepatitis C infection.

• Authors: Kathie Béland, Pascal Lapierre, Gabriel Marceau, Fernando Alvarez
• Journal: Journal of autoimmunity (J Autoimmun) Vol. 22 Issue 2 Pg. 159-66 (Mar 2004) ISSN: 0896-8411 [Print] England
• PMID: 14987745 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Autoantigens
• Recombinant Proteins
• anti-liver kidney microsome antibody
• liver cytosol antigen type 1, human
• Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6
• Ammonia-Lyases
• formiminotetrahydrofolate cyclodeaminase

Topics

• Adult
• Ammonia-Lyases (genetics, immunology)
• Autoantibodies (blood, immunology)
• Autoantigens (genetics, immunology)
• Child, Preschool
• Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 (genetics, immunology)
• Epitope Mapping
• Hepacivirus (immunology)
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (blood, immunology)
• Hepatitis, Autoimmune (blood, immunology)
• Humans
• Recombinant Proteins (genetics, immunology)