title: Immunoelectron microscopic observations on Leu-7 positive cells in virus-related chronic liver diseases.
abstract: We investigated the liver biopsies of 78 patients with hepatitis virus-related chronic liver diseases (B type; 14 patients, C type; 64 patients) by immunoelectron microscopy with the Leu-7 monoclonal antibody in order to determine the association of NK/K cells in virus-related chronic liver diseases. Most Leu-7 positive cells in the liver had the Pit cell morphology but a few Pit cells were Leu-7 negative. A few Leu-7 positive cells had neither Pit cell nor typical T cell morphology. No ultrastructural difference was observed in Leu-7 positive cells between hepatitis B virus- and hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver diseases. Regardless of virus type and hepatitis activity, the fine morphology of extravascular Leu-7 positive cells differed considerably from intravascular cells. Leu-7 positive cells were regularly seen in the cellular infiltrates but the ratio of Leu-7 positive cells/whole infiltrates was low. There was no correlation between the inflammatory activity of the disease and the level of Leu-7 positive cell infiltration. A virus aetiology (hepatitis-C or hepatitis-B) did not affect Leu-7 positive cell infiltration. We conclude that NK cells play only a small role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus-related hepatocytolysis, during the chronic stage.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kochi Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Himeno
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Enzan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saibara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onishi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D018959:CD57 Antigens