CELLULAR AND HUMORAL IMMUNE-REACTIONS IN CHRONIC ACTIVE LIVER-DISEASE .1. LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS IN LIVER BIOPSIES OF PATIENTS WITH UNTREATED IDIOPATHIC AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITIS, CHRONIC ACTIVE HEPATITIS-B AND PRIMARY BILIARY-CIRRHOSIS

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  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (1) , 17-24
Abstract
In liver biopsies of 37 patients with chronic active liver disease (CALD) the inflammatory infiltrate was studied with monoclonal antibodies to the surface antigens on helper/inducer (OKT4+), suppressor/cytotoxic (OKT8+), killer/natural killer (OKM1,2+) cells and commont T cell antigens (OKT1+, OKT3+). OKT11 antibody was applied, which defines the E [erythrocyte] rosette receptor. Special emphasis was given to areas with piecemeal necrosis (PMN). In areas with PMN in idiopathic autoimmune CALD (IA-CALD, n = 15) OKT8+ and OKM+ lymphocytes and IgG plasma cells were present, whereas in hepatitis B-CALD (HB-CALD, n = 12) almost exclusively OKT8+ cells were found. In PBC [primary biliary cirrhosis] (n = 10) OKT4+ cells in central parts of portal tracts and OKT8+ cells in areas with PMN predominated. In IA-CALD antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and T cell cytotoxicity may be responsible for liver cell damage, while in HB-CALD T cell cytotoxicity seems to be the only mechanism. In PBC liver cell damage also preominantly is the result of T cell cytotoxicty. Helper T lymphocytes seem to play a role since these are found in central areas of the portal tracts.