Adenine Nucleotide Translocator (ANT)

Adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT), an intrinsic protein of the inner mitochondrial membrane, as an auto-antigen in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Further immunochemical characterization by crossed immunoelectrophoresis, indirect solid phase radioimmunoassay and immunoadsorption studies on the isolated translocator protein and mitochondria from heart, kidney and liver showed the existence of organ-specific antigenic determinants although partial crossreactivity between the three proteins was observed.

Further studies showed organ-specific and functionally active autoantibodies, which decreased the ADP/ATP exchange rate from heart mitochondria. A close correlation was found between the antibody-titer and the hemodynamic function. These results give new evidence for autoimmunological events in dilated cardiomyopathy.