Cell-mediated immunity to liver in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.
Mononuclear-cell responses to liver extracts were studied by a migration-inhibition assay in patients with alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, chronic alcoholism without evidence of liver disease, and in healthy individuals. Patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis demonstrated liver-antigen-induced inhibition of migration (migration index [M.I]equal 0-58 plus  or minus 0-08, mean plus or minus S.D.), while patients with cirrhosis, alcoholism, and acute viral hepatitis, as well as healthy volunteers, did not demonstrate such a response (M.I. 0-92 plus or minus 0-13, 0-90 lus or minus 0-10, 0-86 plus or minus 0-18, 0-99 plus or minus 0-04, respectively). It is concluded that cell-mediated immunity to normal or damaged liver tissue may act to perpetuate alcoholic hepatitis and thereby contribute to the development of cirrhosis.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D000941:Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001344:Autopsy; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D008110:Liver Extracts; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000941:Antigens; D001323:Autoantibodies; D008110:Liver Extracts