title: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: a conformational disease associated with lung and liver manifestations.
abstract: Alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) is a serine anti-protease produced chiefly by the liver. A1AT deficiency is a genetic disorder characterized by serum levels of less than 11 mumol/L and is associated with liver and lung manifestations. The liver disease, which occurs in up to 15% of A1AT-deficient individuals, is a result of toxic gain-of-function mutations in the A1AT gene, which cause the A1AT protein to fold aberrantly and accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes. The lung disease is associated with loss-of-function, specifically decreased anti-protease protection on the airway epithelial surface. The so-called 'Z' mutation in A1AT deficiency encodes a glutamic acid-to-lysine substitution at position 342 in A1AT and is the most common A1AT allele associated with disease. Here we review the current understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of A1AT deficiency and the best clinical management protocols.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Research Division, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland. cmgreene@rcsi.ie
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: S D W
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Mahony
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lawless
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Taggart
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: McElvaney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D008954:Models, Biological; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017510:Protein Folding; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin