Autoimmune phenomena in alcholic cirrhosis

Serum immunoglobulins usually are increased impressively in alcoholic cirrhosis, particularly IgA and IgM. The basis for these changes has not been clarified. Previous studies with sera of cirrhotic subjects failed to show autoantibody reactions found in other hepatocellular diseases. Two autoantibody reactions were demonstrated by immunofluorescent techniques, using IgG, IgM, and IgA of cirrhotic sera. Purification was achieved by starch block electrophoresis, gel filtration of Sephadex G-200, chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex, and affinity chromatography on columns of Sepharose 4B, in that sequence. IgM appeared as a nonspecific antinuclear antibody, IgA bound to alcoholic hyaline (Mallory bodies). IgG failed to stain any of the examined tissues. It may be the blocking agent which prevents the above-mentioned autoimmune phenomena in whole serum.