Role of CYP2E1 immunoglobulin G4 subclass antibodies and complement in pathogenesis of idiosyncratic drug-induced hepatitis.
Idiosyncratic drug-induced hepatitis (IDDIH) is the third most common cause for acute liver failure in the United States. Previous studies have attempted to identify susceptible patients or early stages of disease with various degrees of success. To determine if total serum immunoglobulin subclasses, CYP2E1-specific subclass autoantibodies, complement components, or immune complexes could distinguish persons with IDDIH from others exposed to drugs, we studied persons exposed to halogenated volatile anesthetics, which have been associated with IDDIH and CYP2E1 autoantibodies. We found that patients with anesthetic-induced IDDIH had significantly elevated levels of CYP2E1-specific immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) autoantibodies, while anesthetic-exposed healthy persons had significantly elevated levels of CYP2E1-specific IgG1 autoantibodies. Anesthetic IDDIH patients had significantly lower levels of C4a, C3a, and C5a compared to anesthetic-exposed healthy persons. C1q- and C3d-containing immune complexes were significantly elevated in anesthetic-exposed persons. In conclusion, our data suggest that anesthetic-exposed persons develop CYP2E1-specific IgG1 autoantibodies which may form detectable circulating immune complexes subsequently cleared by classical pathway activation of the complement system. Persons susceptible to anesthetic-induced IDDIH develop CYP2E1-specific IgG4 autoantibodies which form small, nonprecipitating immune complexes that escape clearance because of their size or by direct inhibition of complement activation.
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 600 North Wolfe St. Blalock 906A, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. dnjoku@jhmi.edu
Dolores B
DB
Njoku
Jenelle L
JL
Mellerson
Monica V
MV
Talor
Douglas R
DR
Kerr
Nauder R
NR
Faraday
Ingrid
I
Outschoorn
Noel R
NR
Rose
D000328:Adult; D000776:Anesthesiology; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000009:adverse effects; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000097:blood; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019392:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018448:Models, Immunological; D016273:Occupational Exposure
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D019392:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1