PL-12

Description

The alanyle-tRNA synthetase is a cytoplasmic enzyme which catalyzes the binding of amino acid alanine to alanine-specific transfer RNA.  

Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis (PM/DM) are autoimmune diseases which primarily affect the muscles and/or the skin, although other organs may also be involved (lung and heart). The illnesses severely affect the quality of life and may, if not diagnosed and treated rapidly, progress over time to a life-threatening state. The diagnosis of PM/DM however is difficult since overlap syndromes with features of other diseases such as Scleroderma are frequent.

The most important autoantibodies for the serological diagnosis of PM/DM are antiaminoacyl-tRNA synthetases antibodies (such as anti-PL-12 antibodies). The anti-synthetase syndrome is characterized by myositis with a high frequency of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD).

PL-12 antibodies are diagnostic marker for Polymiosiyis/Dermatomyositis (PM/DM). They are rare but important for the differential diagnosis and therapy of Myositis. Indeed PL-12 (but also PL-7) associated Myositis appears to be more difficult to treat than Myositis associated with other antibodies (e.g. PM-Scl).

 

Antigen used by D-tek

Recombinant human, expressed in Baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells (for more information on our antigens click here)