title: A study of the epitopes on steroid 21-hydroxylase recognized by autoantibodies in patients with or without Addison's disease.
abstract: Steroid 21-hydroxylase (21-OH) autoantibodies are found in patients with autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD), either isolated or associated with autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS) type I and II and in adrenal-cortex autoantibody (ACA)-positive patients without AAD. In order to assess any differences in the 21-OH autoantibodies in these different patient groups, we have studied their reactivity with different epitopes on 21-OH using full length and modified 35S-labelled 21-OH proteins produced in an in vitro transcription/translation system. There were no major differences in the pattern of autoantibody reactivity with the different modified 21-OH proteins in patients with isolated AAD or with APS types I and II, and in 21-OH autoantibody-positive patients with clinical AAD, subclinical AAD and those maintaining a normal adrenal function. Our studies also indicate that the main epitopes for 21-OH autoantibodies in patients with different forms of autoimmune adrenal disease are located in the C-terminal end and in a central region of 21-OH.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Semeiotica Medica, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volpato
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prentice
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Betterle
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rees Smith
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Furmaniak
mesh_terms: D000224:Addison Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D013255:Steroid 21-Hydroxylase / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies; D000939:Epitopes; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D013255:Steroid 21-Hydroxylase