Cross-reactive epitopes on beta2-glycoprotein-I and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA), directed against the phosphopeptidomannan (PPM) part of the cell wall of the yeast, have been identified as an important and specific serological marker for Crohn's disease. We evaluated the prevalence and properties of ASCA in APS patients. Thirty-one out of 155 APS patients tested positive for ASCA (20.

Establishment of standardised SLA/LP immunoassays: specificity for autoimmune hepatitis, worldwide occurrence, and clinical characteristics.

Background: Antibodies to soluble liver antigen/liver pancreas (SLA/LP) are specific markers of autoimmune hepatitis. Their target antigen has recently been cloned.

Aims: To establish standardised immunoassays using the recombinant antigen, and to assess the frequency and significance of seropositivity in patients from different countries.

Fine specificity of autoantibodies to soluble liver antigen and liver/pancreas.

Autoantibodies to soluble liver antigen and liver pancreas (SLA/LP) have been described as specific markers for Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH), occurring in about 20% of patients with AIH. The high degree of specificity for SLA/LP in autoimmune liver disease suggests a possible role in its pathogenesis. This study aims to map the exact epitope(s) recognized by SLA/LP autoantibodies and to assess the role of molecular mimicry between microbial antigens and self-epitopes.

Identification of target antigen for SLA/LP autoantibodies in autoimmune hepatitis.

Background: Autoantibodies are a hallmark of autoimmune hepatitis, but most are not disease specific. Autoantibodies to soluble liver antigen (SLA) and to liver and pancreas antigen (LP) have been described as disease specific, occurring in about 30% of all patients with autoimmune hepatitis, but no standardised assays are available. Methods We tested 2000 serum samples from patients with various liver diseases and controls for SLA autoantibodies by inhibition ELISA.