Anti-rods/rings autoantibody generation in hepatitis C patients during interferon-α/ribavirin therapy

Figure 1 Inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 and cytidine triphosphate synthetase enzymes can aggregate into rods and rings structures. A: Representative image of the RR pattern observed in a Euroimmun HEp-2 slide; B-D: HEp-2 cells were cultivated with DON treatment and labeled by indirect immunofluorescence with anti-RR-positive HCV serum (B) and rabbit anti-CTPS1 antibody (C). Merged image of panel B and C plus DAPI (D). IMPDH2-based (solid arrows), CTPS-based (arrowheads), and mixed RR structures (dotted arrows) can be observed. (A-D) All data and images were obtained in our own laboratory from assays performed by Keppeke GD. RR: Rods and rings; DON: 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; IMPDH2: Inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase 2; CTPS: Cytidine triphosphate synthetase.