What are antimitochondrial antibodies?
Antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) are autoantibodies or antibodies against each other that targets mitochondria. Mitochondrion is an organelle or structure in a cell that helps produce cellular energy, monitor cell growth and cause cellular death, among other things. An antibody is a protein called immunoglobulin that works with the immune system to locate and disarm damaged cells and foreign objects such as viruses or harmful bacteria. In a healthy patient, the body provides several key defense mechanisms for the body, but when the immune system accidentally turns against healthy tissues in the body, it can cause serious illness known as autoimmune disorders. The presence of antimitochondrial antibodies in the blood indicates autoimmune diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune hepatitis, systematic lupus erythematosus.
antibody is a protein composed of two heavy polypeptide chains and two light polypeptide chains thatRé form the shape of "y". The "Y" tribe is a constant area whose five classes or isotypes that control how antigen are destroyed and how the immune system should react. Antigen is the aim of antibody or mitochondria in the case of antimitochondrial antibodies. Two arms of "y" consist of variable areas of antibodies that include hypervarable areas and binding areas of antigen. The binding areas of the antigen are specially created, either by a random composition or in response to the immune response to recognize very specific antigens, then bound and destroy it.
in a healthy body, a mechanism called immune tolerance prevents the body to attack certain antigens, such as healthy body tissue. Antibodies that cannot recognize themselves and try to attack a healthy tissue are removed from the SY. Some external antigens, or non-symo-antigens, such as organ transplantation or fetus in a pregnant woman, require a mechanism of an immune system called acquired tolerance.
The presence of antimitochondrial antibodies in body fluids means that the immune system has lost its tolerance of mitochondria or has lost its ability to recognize mitochondria as part of the self. These antibodies then focus on the protein found on the enzyme complex, called enzyme 2 (PDC-E2), in the inner lining of mitochondria. Mitochondria in the liver are often most affected.
autoimmune hepatitis occurs when the immune system attacks the liver, causes inflammation or swelling and cirrhosis in the late stages. Cirrhosis refers to the scarring of liver tissue, which can lead to impaired liver function. Autoimmune hepatitis represents symptoms of dark urine, pale stools, fatigue, loss of appetite, overall itching, nausea and abdominal swelling, and USUally arises in young women with a family history of disease. A positive blood test for antimitochondrial antibodies is often used to diagnose this disease, including symptoms.
AMA's blood test can also be used to diagnose primaBiliary cirrhosis (PBC). For unknown causes, PBC bile ducts irritate in the liver, cause inflammation and then blocking bile ducts. This obstruction then causes damage to cells in the liver and finally cirrhosis. This disease occurs primarily in middle -aged women and represents symptoms of jaundice, abdominal pain, itching, abdominal swelling, oily stools and fat collection under the skin.