Alpha-enolase is a renal-specific antigen associated with kidney involvement in mixed cryoglobulinemia
Sabbatini, A.; Dolcher, M.P.; Marchini, B.; Chimenti, D.; Moscato, S.; Pratesi, F.; Bombardieri, S.; Migliorini, P.
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 15(6): 655-658
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0392-856X PMID: 9444422 Document Number: 476350
To study the specificity of antibodies reactive with renal antigens in mixed cryoglobulinemia. Sera from mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) patients were tested on human kidney extracts by immunoblot. A partially purified renal antigen was subjected to N-terminal sequencing. Antibodies reactive with a renal antigen of 48 kD were detected in 7 out of 11 patients with MC and renal involvement. N-terminal sequencing of this antigen showed that it was identical with alpha-enolase. This result was confirmed by the reactivity of the renal antigen with a rabbit anti-serum specific for alpha-enolase. The results indicate that antibodies specific for alpha-enolase are frequently produced by mixed cryoglobulinemia patients with renal involvement.