Two-dimensional flow cytometric analysis of intrahepatic lymphocyte subsets from patients with chronic hepatitis.
Peripheral and intrahepatic lymphocyte subsets were analyzed in 22 patients with chronic hepatitis by two-dimensional flow cytometry. Activated T cells in the liver significantly increased compared with those in the peripheral blood. Helper T cells increased, but the CD4+ cells decreased due to a marked decrease of suppressor inducer T cells. CD8+ cells increased due to a increase of both cytotoxic T and suppressor T cells. Fc-receptor-positive cells, which increased significantly, were not NK cells but Fc-receptor-bearing T cells. In comparison with immunohistochemical methods, flow cytometric analysis enables more objective quantitation and simpler two-color staining of intrahepatic lymphocytes. Our findings using this method suggest that activated T cells and helper T cells have important roles in hepatitis and that hepatocellular injury may be generated not only by cytotoxic T cells but also by Fc-receptor-bearing T cells.
Takehara
T
T
First Department of Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Hayashi
N
N
Katayama
K
K
Kasahara
A
A
Fusamoto
H
H
Kato
M
M
Masuzawa
M
M
Kamada
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal