Antimitochondrial antibodies in primary biliary cirrhosis: the role of xenobiotics.
Primary biliary cirrhosis is an enigmatic autoimmune disease of women characterized by antimitochondrial antibodies and destruction of intrahepatic bile ducts. The etiology of PBC is unknown, but we present data herein that the disease may be induced by xenobiotic (i.e. chemicals) exposure. In particular, we postulate that halogenated compounds will bind to the autoantigen, break tolerance, and lead to an intense mucosal response.
Long
S Alice
SA
Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, TB 192, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Van de Water
Judy
J
Gershwin
M Eric
ME
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011768:Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex / Q000276:immunology; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000378:metabolism*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D011768:Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex; D015262:Xenobiotics; D008063:Thioctic Acid