Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019158 (hepatitis)
 30,205 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Oleanolic acid (OA) is a triterpenoid compound that has been shown to protect against a number of hepatotoxicants, and is used in China to treat hepatitis. In the present study, we examined the effect of OA on acetaminophen (AA)-induced acute liver injury in mice and the mechanism(s) of protection. OA pretreatment (25-100 mg/kg s.c. for 3 days) remarkably decreased AA (500 mg/kg i.p.)-induced liver damage in mice, as indicated by decreased serum activities of alanine aminotransferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase, as well as by histopathological observation. Additionally, OA pretreatment mitigated AA (300-450 mg/kg i.v.)-induced depletion in liver glutathione (GSH) content. The protective effect was not evident until 24 hr after a single s.c. injection of OA (300 mg/kg) and lasted for 72 hr. To examine the mechanism of this protection, the biliary and urinary excretion of AA and AA metabolites were measured for 2 hr after AA administration (150 mg/kg i.v.) in bile duct-cannulated mice. OA pretreatment resulted in an increased urinary excretion of AA-glucuronide and a decreased biliary excretion of AA-GSH. Microsomes from OA-pretreated mice, incubated in vitro with AA, produced less benzoquinoneimine intermediate than controls, as determined by the formation of AA-GSH. Hepatic subcellular distribution of [3H] AA to the nuclear fraction was also decreased by OA. OA pretreatment of mice had no influence on liver UDP-glucuronic acid concentration, but increased hepatic glucuronosyltransferase activity toward AA. In summary, OA pretreatment dramatically protects against AA-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Protective effects of oleanolic acid on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. 837 Nov 59

We previously described autoantibodies against a UGA serine tRNA-protein complex (tRNP(Ser)Sec) in patients with type-1 autoimmune hepatitis [1] and now define the specificity and frequency of this autoantibody and the DNA sequence encoding the tRNA(Ser)Sec-associated antigenic protein. The presence of anti-tRNP(Ser)Sec antibodies was highly specific for type-1 autoimmune hepatitis, as 47.5% of patients were positive compared with none of the control subjects. To characterize the antigenic protein(s), we immunoscreened a human cDNA library with anti-tRNP(Ser)Sec-positive sera. Two clones (19 and 13) were isolated. Clone 19 encodes a protein with a predicted molecular mass of 48.8 kD. Clone 13 is a shorter cDNA, almost identical to clone 19, which encodes a 35.9-kD protein. Expression of both cDNAs was accomplished in Escherichia coli as His-tagged recombinant proteins. Antibodies eluted from both purified recombinant proteins were able to immunoprecipitate the tRNA(Ser)Sec from a HeLa S3 cell extract, demonstrating their cross-reactivity with the mammalian antigenic complex. Recent cloning data relating to the target antigen(s) of autoantibodies in autoimmune hepatitis patients that react with a soluble liver antigen (SLA) and a liver-pancreas antigen (LP) have revealed that these two autoantibodies are identical and that the cloned antigen shows 99% amino acid sequence homology with tRNP(Ser)Sec.
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PMID:Isolation and characterization of cDNA encoding the antigenic protein of the human tRNP(Ser)Sec complex recognized by autoantibodies from patients withtype-1 autoimmune hepatitis. 1093 Nov 55

Autoantibodies to soluble liver antigen (SLA) are considered a specific marker of autoimmune hepatitis. We have performed immunoscreening of a human liver gene expression library with an anti-SLA-positive serum. A reactive clone with a 35-kd open reading frame (ORF) and a 563 base pair (bp) 3' untranslated region (UTR) was isolated (soluble liver antigen [SLA]-p35), showing strong homology to an independently isolated putative SLA/liver-pancreas antigen (LP) sequence (Acc. No. AF146396), and a UGA serine tRNA-protein complex (tRNP)((Ser) Sec) related protein (AJ238617), as well as different expression sequence tag (EST)-clones from lymphatic and oncofetal tissues. Expressed in Escherichia coli, SLA-p35 showed dose-dependent and complete blocking of reactivity to native SLA antigen after preabsorption with the 35-kd recombinant protein. It recognized 67/85 (78.8%) precharacterized anti-SLA-positive sera in dilutions up to 1:40,000 in immunoblot, without detectable cross reactivity in the controls. The commercially available SLA/LP enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), by comparison, recognized 63/85 samples (74.1%). Of the negative samples, 18% showed strong inhibition rates (80% and above) in the polyclonal inhibition ELISA. We conlude that the complementary DNA now isolated by 3 independent approaches encodes for the major but not sole antigenic component of soluble liver antigen. Although its truncated form presented here may serve to improve diagnostics based on the new recombinant polypeptide, it currently cannot fully replace the polyclonal inhibition ELISA.
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PMID:Soluble liver antigen: isolation of a 35-kd recombinant protein (SLA-p35) specifically recognizing sera from patients with autoimmune hepatitis. 1123 Jul 39

The liver is continuously exposed to a large antigenic load that includes pathogens, toxins, tumor cells and dietary antigens. A loss of tolerance against its own antigens may result in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The current paradigm holds that the disease is the result of self-perpetuating autoimmune process triggered by yet unknown factors (infections, chemicals, drugs) in a genetically susceptible host. To date, several putative hepatocellular surface antigens have been identified: P450-IID6 (recognized by the anti-LKM-1 autoantibodies) a membrane bound asialoglycoprotein receptor (a liver-specific membrane protein), a cytosolic UGA-suppressor tRNA associated protein (recognized by anti-SMA and anti-LP antibodies) and argininosuccinate lysate and formiminotransferase cyclodeaminase (recognized by ant-LC1 antibodies). In contrast to other chronic hepatitides patients with AIH display significant T cell hypereactivity to autologous liver antigens. Tissue injury seems to be mediated by CD4+ or CD8+ T cells and/or by antibody-dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity.
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PMID:Autoimmune hepatitis: evolving concepts. 1511 Feb 33

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic necroinflammatory disease of the liver characterized by hypergammaglobulinemia, characteristic autoantibodies, association with HLA DR3 or DR4 and a favorable response to immunosuppressive treatment. The etiology is unknown. The detection of non-organ and liver-related autoantibodies remains the hallmark for the diagnosis of the disease in the absence of viral, metabolic, genetic, and toxic etiology of chronic hepatitis or hepatic injury. The current classification of AIH and the several autoantibodies/target-autoantigens found in this disease are reported. Current aspects on the significance of these markers in the differential diagnosis and the study of pathogenesis of AIH are also stated. AIH is subdivided into two major types; AIH type 1 (AIH-1) and type 2 (AIH-2). AIH-1 is characterized by the detection of smooth muscle autoantibodies (SMA) and/or antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Determination of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA), antibodies against the asialoglycoprotein receptor (anti-ASGP-R) and antibodies against to soluble liver antigens or liver-pancreas (anti-SLA/LP) may be useful for the identification of patients who are seronegative for ANA/SMA. AIH-2 is characterized by the presence of specific autoantibodies against liver and kidney microsomal antigens (anti-LKM type 1 or infrequently anti-LKM type 3) and/or autoantibodies against liver cytosol 1 antigen (anti-LC1). Anti-LKM-1 and anti-LKM-3 autoantibodies are also detected in some patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) and chronic hepatitis D (HDV). Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) has been documented as the major target-autoantigen of anti-LKM-1 autoantibodies in both AIH-2 and HCV infection. Recent convincing data demonstrated the expression of CYP2D6 on the surface of hepatocytes suggesting a pathogenetic role of anti-LKM-1 autoantibodies for the liver damage. Family 1 of UDP-glycuronosyltransferases has been identified as the target-autoantigen of anti-LKM-3. For these reasons the distinction between AIH and chronic viral hepatitis (especially of HCV) is of particular importance. Recently, the molecular target of anti-SLA/LP and anti-LC1 autoantibodies were identified as a 50 kDa UGA-suppressor tRNA-associated protein and a liver specific enzyme, the formiminotransferase cyclodeaminase, respectively. Anti-ASGP-R and anti-LC1 autoantibodies appear to correlate closely with disease severity and response to treatment suggesting a pathogenetic role of these autoantibodies for the hepatocellular injury. In general however, autoantibodies should not be used to monitor treatment, predict AIH activity or outcome. Finally, the current aspects on a specific form of AIH that may develop in some patients with a rare genetic syndrome, the autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy syndrome (APECED) are also given. Autoantibodies against liver microsomes (anti-LM) are the specific autoantibodies detected in AIH as a disease component of APECED but also in cases of dihydralazine-induced hepatitis. Cytochrome P450 1A2 has been identified as the target-autoantigen of anti-LM autoantibodies in both APECED-related AIH and dihydralazine-induced hepatitis. The latter may indicate that similar autoimmune pathogenetic mechanisms can lead to liver injury in susceptible individuals irrespective of the primary defect. Characterization of the autoantigen-autoantibody repertoire continues to be an attractive and important tool to get access to the correct diagnosis and to gain insight into the as yet unresolved mystery of how hepatic tolerance is given up and AIH ensues.
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PMID:Autoantibodies and autoantigens in autoimmune hepatitis: important tools in clinical practice and to study pathogenesis of the disease. 1567 7

BACKGROUND: Antibodies to a cytosolic soluble liver antigen (SLA) are specifically detected in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The target of anti-SLA has been identified as a ~50 kDa UGA serine tRNA-associated protein complex (tRNP(Ser)Sec), through the screening of cDNA libraries. A recent report questioned the identity of tRNP(Ser)Sec as the real SLA antigen. The latter study identified alpha-enolase as a major anti-SLA target, through proteomic analysis. METHODS: In an attempt to explain the observed discrepancy we have investigated reactivity of SLA positive sera against alpha-enolase and tRNP(Ser)Sec using rat and primate liver homogenate and the recombinant antigens. Thirty-three serum samples, 11 from SLA-positive patients and 22 from SLA negative controls were investigated. SLA antibodies were detected by an inhibition ELISA and confirmed by immunoblot using human liver homogenate. Autoantibody reactivity was further evaluated using preparations of primate and rat liver homogenates. Anti-alpha-enolase antibody reactivity has been tested by immunoblot using recombinant alpha-enolase. An affinity purified goat polyclonal anti-alpha-enolase IgG antibody was used as reference serum sample. Anti-tRNP(Ser)Sec antibody reactivity was detected by ELISA or dot blot using recombinant tRNP(Ser)Sec antigen. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The affinity purified IgG antibody directed to human alpha-enolase gave a band of approximately 48 kDa in both human and rat liver homogenates. A high titre anti-tRNP(Ser)Sec antibody serum gave a single band of ~50 kDa in both liver preparations. All but one anti-SLA antibody positive sera reacted with a ~50 kDa but none immunofixed a 48 kDa band. All anti-SLA antibody positive sera reacted strongly with the recombinant full length tRNP(Ser)Sec protein. None of the anti-SLA negative sera reacted with tRNP(Ser)Sec. Anti-SLA positive, and anti-SLA negative sera reacted equally against recombinant alpha-enolase by immunoblot. Pre-incubation of anti-SLA positive sera with tRNP(Ser)Sec completely abolished the 50 kDa band. The findings of the present study indicate that alpha-enolase and tRNP(Ser)Sec are both expressed in primate and rat liver and have a respective MW of 48 and 50 kDa. They also show that anti-tRNP(Ser)Sec - but not anti-alpha-enolase - correlates with anti-SLA antibody reactivity. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that tRNP(Ser)Sec is the most likely target of anti-SLA.
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PMID:Antibodies to soluble liver antigen and alpha-enolase in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. 1567 47