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. 1983 May;36(5):530–534. doi: 10.1136/jcp.36.5.530

Detection of immunoglobulins G and A on the cell membrane of hepatocytes from patients with alcoholic liver disease.

A Trevisan, R Cavigli, R Meliconi, G F Stefanini, S Zotti, M Rugge, F Noventa, C Betterle, G Realdi
PMCID: PMC498280  PMID: 6341413

Abstract

The presence of immunoglobulins (Ig) G, A, and M and of complement fractions (C3-C4) on the liver cell surface was investigated by direct immunofluorescence in 40 patients with alcoholic liver disease. IgG was detected on the liver cell membrane with a linear staining pattern in 29 patients. The percentage of IgG-positive hepatocytes correlated with transaminase activities, independently of the histological findings. IgA was demonstrable with a coarse granular staining pattern in 11 of the 14 cases with established cirrhosis. The finding of IgG bound to the hepatocyte surface in patients with alcohol-induced liver damage suggests that alcohol could be responsible for antigenic modifications of hepatocyte membrane with consequent triggering of a humoral immune response.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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