Antibodies against the mitochondrial fraction of liver after toxic liver damage in rats.

The liver antigen which fixes complement with rat serum containing the IgM antibody induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl) injection is primarily associated with the `mitochondrial fraction' of liver. The extreme lability of the antigen precluded any attempt to isolate a specific protein, lipoprotein or lipopolysaccharide moiety. This was considered to be due to the presence of lysosomes which would be likely to autolyse the antigenic components. It was concluded that the particulate nature of the antigen explained the finding of antibody activity in the IgM fraction of serum and that the inability to induce tolerance to the antigen also depended on its particulate nature. It is suggested that the individual may not develop tolerance to particulate subcellular components.