title: Asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR): a peculiar target of liver-specific autoimmunity.
abstract: Asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) autoantibodies have been considered specific markers of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The exact mechanisms responsible for the development of these autoantibodies and leading to autoimmunity to this peculiar liver receptor remain elusive. Furthermore, loss of T cell tolerance to ASGPR has been demonstrated in patients with AIH, but it is poorly understood whether such liver-specific T cell responses bear a pathogenic potential and/or participate in the precipitation of AIH. Newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays have led to the investigation of the sensitivity and specificity of anti-ASGPR antibodies for AIH. The present review provides an overview of the diagnostic and clinical relevance of anti-ASGPR antibodies. A thorough investigation of the autoreactivity against ASGPR may assist efforts to understand liver autoimmunity in susceptible individuals.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Applied Sciences, Großenhainer Str. 57, 01968 Senftenberg, Germany ; GA Generic Assays GmbH, 15827 Dahlewitz/Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roggenbuck
authors.affiliation: Division of Transplantation Immunology and Mucosal Biology, Institute of Liver Studies, King's College London School of Medicine at King's College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mytilinaiou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Autoimmune Diagnostics, St. Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University, St.Petersburg, Russia.
authors.forename: Sergey V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Lapin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reinhold
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Conrad
keywords: Autoantibody; Autoimmune hepatitis; Autoimmunity; Liver disease; Primary biliary cirrhosis