Identification of an autoantibody against alpha-enolase in primary biliary cirrhosis

Abstract Background: Primary biliary cirrhosis is a chronic cholestatic liver disease in which autoreactive T cells may play an important role in the destruction of intrahepatic bile ducts. However, target antigens remain unknown. Alpha-enolase-derived peptide binds to human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR8, which is implicated in the development of primary biliary cirrhosis in Japanese patients. Partial homology between alpha-enolase and the inner lipoyl domain of E2 component of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH-E2)_is also observed. Methods: Using alpha, beta and gamma enolase isozymes obtained from humans and/or rabbits, we examined serum samples of 56 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 19 autoimmune hepatitis, 38 acute and chronic viral hepatitis and 36 healthy subjects by immunoblotting. Results: Anti-alpha-enolase antibody was present in a significantly higher percentage of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (16 of 56, 28.6%) and autoimmune hepatitis (6 of 19, 31.6%) than in normal subjects ( p p p Conclusions: Since alpha-enolase is expressed on the cell surface, our data suggest that the immunological reaction to alpha-enolase might be involved in biliary epithelial destruction and be relevant to the disease progression.