α and β subunits of the gastric h/k -ATPase are concordantly targeted by parietal cell autoantibodies associated with autoimmune gastritis

Abstract

We have previously shown that parietal cell autoantibodies predominantly react with a 60-90 kDa gastric autoantigen1,2, subsequently identified as the (3 subunit of the gastric H+/K+-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) (proton pump)3-5 whereas Karlsson et al6 showed that these autoantibodies primarily target the 95 kDa α subunit of the pump. In view of these discordant results, we have reassessed the reactivity of parietal cell autoantibodies with the two subunits of the gastric H+/K+-ATPase. We show here that all 26 parietal cell autoantibody-positive sera immunoblot both subunits under appropriate, but mutually exclusive, conditions. Thus, reactivity of anti- parietal cell autoantibodies with the 95 kDa α..