New knowledge in primary biliary cirrhosis.
The autoantibodies characteristic of the disease react against mitochondrial enzymes essential to the function of all body cells, yet the disease is highly focused on only one tissue: the epithelial lining of intrahepatic bile ductules. The explanation may lie in tissue-specific cell-surface expression of a triggering antigen.
Gershwin
M E
ME
School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA.
Mackay
I R
IR
D000328:Adult; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000276:immunology
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001323:Autoantibodies; D000939:Epitopes