Alcohol abusers exhibit a higher IgA response to acetaldehyde-modified proteins
Worrall, S.; De Jersey, J.; Shanley, B.C.; Wilce, P.A.
Alcohol and Alcoholism . Suppl 1: 261-264
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 1358-6173 PMID: 1845546 Document Number: 384624
In the present study we have used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the immunoreactivity towards acetaldehyde-modified proteins in plasma from alcoholics, patients with non-alcoholic liver disease and control social drinkers. All three groups showed a response to modified proteins when total immunoglobulin binding was measured. However, when the assay was modified such that class-specific immunoglobulin binding was measured, it was found that the alcoholic response had a significantly greater immunoglobulin A component than patients with non-alcoholic liver disease or controls who were social drinkers. Thus measurement of IgA binding to acetaldehyde-modified proteins may be a marker for alcohol abuse.