title: [Altered immunoregulation in chronic viral hepatitis. Deficiency of T-lymphocytes with membrane receptors for histamine].
abstract: To further characterize the defect of immunoregulation in chronic active hepatitis (CAH), we measured circulating T cells with membrane receptors for histamine (H + TLy), cells endowed with cytotoxic and suppressor functions, in a group of patients with viral CAH, in patients with non-immune liver disorders and in healthy individuals. Patients with CAH showed significantly lower mean numbers and percentage of H + TLy (p less than 0,001) than controls, while patients with non-immune liver disorders had H + TLy values which did not differ significantly from those found in healthy individuals. The lymphocyte alterations in CAH patients were independent of serum HBsAg, cirrhosis or steroid therapy, but correlated inversely with an in vivo index of plasma cell activity, i.e., serum gammaglobulin levels, and with the histological parameter of hepatic inflammation, i.e. portal and periportal mononuclear infiltration. The normal values of H + TLy in patients with non-immune liver diseases suggest that in CAH the decrease in circulating H + TLy is not secondary to the liver damage. The alteration of immunoregulation associated with CAH may have pathogenetic implications, although it is unlikely to represent the sole mechanism for the perpetuation and worsening of the disease process.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011968:Receptors, Histamine / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D011968:Receptors, Histamine; D005719:gamma-Globulins
vernacular_title: Alterata immunoregolazione nella epatite cronica virale. Deficit di linfociti T con recettore di membrana per l'istamina.