HEPATOCYTE DAMAGE INDUCED BY LYMPHOCYTES FROM PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LIVER-DISEASES, AS DETECTED BY LDH RELEASE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 31  (3) , 436-442
Abstract
A cytoplasmic enzyme system was used in the study of the in vitro cytotoxic activity of human peripheral blood leukocytes against isolated liver cells in patients with chronic liver diseases. Lymphocytes from primary biliary cirrhosis and chronic active liver disease patients had an in vitro capacity to induce a cytolitic effect on isolated hepatocytes, as demonstrated by the enhanced release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a cytoplasmic marker enzyme. No significant LDH release was seen with control lymphocytes of normal persons or with lymphocytes from patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Lymphocyte-mediated liver cell damage in vitro probably occurs in primary biliary cirrhosis and chronic active liver disease.