title: Identification with monoclonal antibodies of T-cell subsets in peripheral blood and ascitic fluid of patients with alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis.
abstract: In an attempt to investigate an aspect of the immunoregulatory mechanisms operating in alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis with ascites we have enumerated T-cell subsets in the peripheral blood and ascitic fluid of 16 patients with this disease. The peripheral blood analysis revealed a reduction of OKT3+, OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells compared to those of the control group (p less than 0.001) and an increase of OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio. In the ascitic fluid the OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio, compared to that of the peripheral blood, was decreased (p less than 0.001) because of increase of OKT8+ cell proportion. We suggest that the sequestrated splanchnic OKT8+ subset might be represented by suppressor lymphocytes transuding from the liver.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal