Cell-mediated immunity to human Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein in autoimmune liver disease with renal tubular acidosis.
Cell-mediated immune responses to Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein isolated from human urine were investigated using the leucocyte migration test. Abnormal responses were found in 91% of patients with active chronic hepatitis or primary biliary cirrhosis with an associated renal tubular acidosis (R.T.A.) but in only 19% of those without R.T.A. In nearly all of a group of patients without autoimmune liver disease and in a control group of normal subjects results were within normal limits. In addition, using an immunofluorescent technique with rabbit antibody to human Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein, it was possible to show the presence in human liver cell membrane of material reacting immunologically as Tamm-Horsfall. These findings suggest that the development of an immune response to this glycoprotein, initiated by release of cross-reacting antigens from damaged hepatocytes, could be the mechanism underlying the occurrence of R.T.A. in some patients with autoimmune liver disease.
D000141:Acidosis, Renal Tubular / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000276:immunology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D014556:Urine
D006023:Glycoproteins