title: T-cell-directed hepatocyte damage in autoimmune chronic active hepatitis.
abstract: To investigate the function of activated T lymphocytes in autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, 7 of 15 T-cell clones from the peripheral blood of 8 patients were studied. These clones showed specificity for liver-membrane antigen with proliferation when stimulated by rabbit liver cell membranes. 6 of these clones reacted with liver-specific lipoprotein complex, and 1 clone (and 3 subclones) responded to the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR), both known targets of immune attack in autoimmune chronic active hepatitis. 2 of these clones stimulated autologous B lymphocytes to produce liver-membrane-specific autoantibodies and antibody to the ASGPR. These results suggest that liver-membrane-specific activated T lymphocytes in peripheral blood may be important in the autoimmune attack of chronic active hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peakman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lobo-Yeo
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mowat
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mieli-Vergani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vergani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies