Anti-reticulin Ab (ARA) is an autoantibody which decorates the peritubular fibers, Bowman's capsule fibers, and perivascular fibers in animal kidney substrate IFA preps. We use the FLUORO-KIT test system with cryostat sections of rat kidney and stomach, and or rat liver as the substrate at a beginning dilution of patient's serum of 1:20. The use of animal tissue avoids interference from HLA and/or blood group Abs that may occur were human substrate used. Incidental Abs may show up in this system such as ASMA, APCA, ANA, ABBA, anti-canalicular Ab, anti-liver cell membrane Ab, and anti-ribosomal Ab.

In rat liver-kidney-stomach (LKS) IFA substrate systems there are 5 antibodies: R1 decorates collagen/fibrous components between hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells and peritubular and periglomerular (R2 gets the former but not the latter), and is the one with positive clinical associations¹.

Associations with undetectable Ab:

• normalcy

• many adult gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE) celiac cases (high false negative rate)

Associations with elevated levels:

• untreated celiac disease in children

• adult GSE 

• Crohn's disease

Synonyms: anti-reticular antibodies

REFERENCES:

1. Bradwell AR, Atlas of Autoantibody Patterns on Tissues, 1997 [@ LML]

2. Carter JB, NewsPath, March 2008 (celiac serology review).

(posted 9 February 2002; latest addition 4 September 2008)