Autoantibodies to liver-specific lipoprotein following hepatitis induced by mouse cytomegalovirus

Autoantibodies to liver specific lipoprotein (LSP) are produced following acute non-fatal hepatitis in murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infected mice. Both C57B1 and BALB/c mice produced a transient LSP autoantibody response demonstrated by passive haemagglutination and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. C57Bl mice produced both IgM and IgG LSP autoantibody and BALB/c mice produced only IgM autoantibody. The autoantibody was species non-specific, reacting with both mouse and rabbit LSP. Plasma containing LSP autoantibody reacted with the surface of normal mouse hepatocytes by immunofluorescence. This model provides an opportunity for study of LSP autoantibody production during viral hepatitis.