Liver-derived cytotoxic T cells in hepatitis A virus infection.
An autologous in vitro model was developed to analyze the immunologic cause of liver tissue injury during hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. Human T lymphocytes infiltrating the livers of two patients with acute HAV infection were isolated from liver biopsy cores, cloned, and expanded in vitro. Procedures using a cell culture system with HAV-infected autologous skin fibroblasts demonstrated that 42% and 53% of the liver-infiltrating CD8+ clones were HAV-specific and that they kill HAV-infected skin fibroblasts in a human leukocyte antigen-restricted manner. Data show virus-specific killing by liver-infiltrating T lymphocytes in man and support the hypothesis that liver cell injury in acute HAV infection is mediated by HAV-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes and is not caused by a cytopathic effect of the virus itself.
Vallbracht
A
A
Department of Medical Virology, University of Tübingen, FRG.
Maier
K
K
Stierhof
Y D
YD
Wiedmann
K H
KH
Flehmig
B
B
Fleischer
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I