Identification of tyrosine hydroxylase as an autoantigen in autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I.
Patients with the autosomal recessively inherited autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I (APS I) have autoantibodies directed against several endocrine and nonendocrine organs. In this study a new autoantigen related to this syndrome, tyrosine hydroxylase, was identified in sera from patients with alopecia areata through immunoscreening of a scalp cDNA library. Immunoreactivity against in vitro expressed tyrosine hydroxylase was found in 41 (44%) of the 94 APS I patients studied and this reactivity correlated with the presence of alopecia areata (P = 0.02). These findings further stress the importance of enzymes involved in neurotransmitter biosynthesis as important immune targets in APS I.
Hedstrand
H
H
Department of Medical Sciences, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. hakan.hedstrand@medsci.uu.se
Ekwall
O
O
Haavik
J
J
Landgren
E
E
Betterle
C
C
Perheentupa
J
J
Gustafsson
J
J
Husebye
E
E
Rorsman
F
F
Kämpe
O
O
D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005060:Europe; D015723:Gene Library; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016884:Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012535:Scalp / Q000201:enzymology; D013577:Syndrome; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D007527:Isoenzymes; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase