Immune Dysfunction and Albumin-Related Immunity in Liver Cirrhosis

Figure 1

Hypothetical mechanisms promoting antibody formation against albumin. Blue represents the native form of albumin; red represents exogenous albumin or altered forms of native albumin (e.g., oxidized albumin, glycated albumin), both being potentially immunogenic. (a) Naturally occurring antibodies (green Y) may be present in healthy individuals and diseased patients forming immune complexes with albumin. (b) Exogenous albumin may induce a humoral immune response if recognized as foreign antigen. (c) Native albumin might be altered by enzymatic or nonenzymatic processes leading to formation of neoepitopes that are potentially immunogenic. Antialbumin antibodies (black Y) may facilitate the disposal of altered albumin under physiological conditions.

(a)

(b)

(c)