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Uridine diphosphate glucoronosyl transferases, candidate antigens of liver‐kidney microsomal antibodies in hepatitis delta virus‐infected patients
Author(s) -
Bonino Ferruccio,
Brunetto Maurizia Rossana
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840220246
Subject(s) - antibody , virology , microsome , antigen , medicine , kidney , biology , immunology , enzyme , biochemistry
Patients with chronic hepatitis D often have liver‐kidney microsomal antibodies type 3 (LKM‐3). These antibodies react with several microsomal antigens that have a molecular weight of 55 HDa and an isoelectric point of about 8. We studied the molecular nature of the antigen and, by immunoscreening a human liver cDNA expression library with KM‐3 sera, found that uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase (UGT) appeared as candidate antigens. We confirmed the identity of UGT as an antigen by reacting the sera with recombinant rabbit liver UGT proteins. Some sera reacted with rabbit UGT‐2 proteins, but UGT‐1 proteins were more sensitive and specific in detecting LKM‐3 autoantibodies in patient sera. Anti‐UGT‐1 antibodies were detected in all LKM‐3 positive sera from patients with hepatitis D and 1 out of 11 patients with autoimmune hepatitis type 2. Sera from patients who had hepatitis B only did not react with UGT proteins.