title: Contractile proteins as autoantigens.
abstract: Smooth muscle antoantibodies are found in high titre in some patients with chronic active hepatitis, and in lower titres in a number of other liver diseases and certain viral infections. They are directed at contractile proteins of the actomyosin group, and anti-actin activity appears to predominate. Whether occurring in disease affecting the liver or in other conditions, smooth muscle antibody production is thought to be stimulated when contractile proteins of non-muscle cells become immunogenic as a result of changes induced in the cells by viral infection or by other unknown causes of derangement of cytoskeletal structure.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003285:Contractile Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D003285:Contractile Proteins