title: Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency. 4: Molecular pathophysiology.
abstract: The molecular basis of alpha(1)-antitrypsin deficiency is reviewed and is shown to be due to the accumulation of mutant protein as ordered polymers within the endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes. The current goals are to determine the cellular response to polymeric alpha(1)-antitrypsin and to develop therapeutic strategies to block polymerisation in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge CB2 2XY, UK. dal16@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lomas
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Parfrey
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000737:chemistry*; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin