Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the small and medium bile ducts and serologically characterized by the presence of circulating M2 autoantibodies. Anti-M2 autoantibodies belong
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the small and medium bile ducts and serologically characterized by the presence of circulating M2 autoantibodies. Anti-M2 autoantibodies belong to the group of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA). The heterogeneously reacting specific AMA of the M2 subtype are directed against three related proteins of the alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex, which is located at the inner mitochondrial membrane. The major epitope recognized is located on the E2 subunit and the protein X of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). Additionally, AMA-M2-G autoantibodies recognize the (E1 alpha and E1 beta) subunits of the same complex and the E2 subunit of several other multienzyme complexes, such as the 2- oxo-glutarate dehydrogenase complex (OGDC) and the branched chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex (BCOADC). The determination of AMA-M2-G is a powerful tool in diagnosing PBC.
Method:
Immunoenzymatic method for the quantitative determination of IgG class antibodies against anti-M2 in human serum, using a disposable device applied on the Chorus and Chorus TRIO instruments. The test is based on the ELISA principle (Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay) which uses the reaction between the antibodies present in the tested sample and the immobilized antigen bound to solid phases.The immunoglobulins bind to the antigen through incubation with diluted human serum.The disposable devices contain all the reagents to perform the test when applied on the Chorus instruments. The results are expressed in Arbitrary Units (AU/ml).
