title: Autoimmunity in dilated cardiomyopathy and the major histocompatibility complex.
abstract: Autoimmune mechanisms are likely to participate in the pathogenesis of a subgroup of dilated cardiomyopathy. These mechanisms involve the elaboration of autoantibodies against cardiac proteins as well as abnormal lymphocyte regulation. The presence of autoantibodies against beta-adrenoceptors correlates with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR4/1 phenotypes and specific T-cell receptor haplotypes. In addition, histidine at position 36 of the HLA-DQ beta 1 gene is associated with the presence of clinically manifest dilated cardiomyopathy. Components of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) may thus serve as markers for the propensity to develop immune-mediated myocardial damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Limas
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006648:Histocompatibility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell