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Co-Occurrence of IgA Antibodies Against Ethanol Metabolites and Tissue Transglutaminase in Alcohol Consumers: Correlation with Proinflammatory Cytokines and Markers of Fibrogenesis

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Abstract

IgA antibodies to tissue transglutaminase have been suggested to be specific indicators of celiac disease. However, no studies have addressed the relationships between such antibodies and alcohol abuse, which is also a common cause of IgA-isotype immune responses and tissue injury in the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Here, measurements of specific IgAs against tissue transglutaminase and proteins modified by acetaldehyde, the first metabolite of ethanol, showed significantly higher levels of both antibodies in alcoholic liver disease patients than in healthy controls or heavy drinkers without liver disease. These antibodies also significantly co-occurred in heavy drinkers without liver disease, moderate drinkers, and abstainers, and correlated with biomarkers of alcohol consumption, proinflammatory cytokines and markers of fibrogenesis. The data suggests a link between such immune responses, perturbations in cytokine profiles and fibrogenesis, which should be implicated in studies on the pathogenesis and diagnosis of ethanol-induced tissue injury and celiac disease.

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Acknowledgement

The studies were supported in part by the Finnish Foundation for Alcohol Studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Research Unit and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinajoki, 60220, Finland

    Heidi Koivisto, Johanna Hietala, Petra Anttila & Onni Niemelä

  2. University of Tampere, Tampere, 33014, Finland

    Heidi Koivisto, Johanna Hietala, Petra Anttila & Onni Niemelä

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  1. Heidi Koivisto
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Correspondence to Onni Niemelä.

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Koivisto, H., Hietala, J., Anttila, P. et al. Co-Occurrence of IgA Antibodies Against Ethanol Metabolites and Tissue Transglutaminase in Alcohol Consumers: Correlation with Proinflammatory Cytokines and Markers of Fibrogenesis. Dig Dis Sci 53, 500–505 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-007-9874-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-007-9874-5

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