TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1988//
TI  - Strongly enhanced toxicity of the mushroom toxin alpha-amanitin by an amatoxin-specific Fab or monoclonal antibody
JO  - Toxicon: Journal of the International Society on Toxinology
A1  - Faulstich, H.
A1  - Kirchner, K.
A1  - Derenzini, M.
SP  - 491
EP  - 499
VL  - 26
IS  - 5
N2  - A monoclonal antibody, with high affinity against the mushroom toxin alpha-amanitin, was prepared. Administration of the Fab fragment of the monoclonal antibody to mice caused a 50-fold increase in alpha-amanitin toxicity. Electron micrographs showed normal appearance of hepatocytes but typical, amanitin-induced lesions in cells of the proximal convoluted tubules of the kidney. The pronounced nephrotoxicity is mainly explained by glomerular filtration and tubular reabsorption of the Fab-amatoxin complex and, to a lesser extent, of the immunoglobulin-amatoxin complex, which is still c. Twice as toxic as free alpha-amanitin. To our knowledge this is the first reported case where immunoglobulins or their fragments enhance rather than decrease the activity of a toxin. Accordingly, immunotherapy of Amanita mushroom poisoning in humans does not appear promising.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0041-0101
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -