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Anti-lymphocytic antibodies (ALA) have been described in a variety of autoimmune disorders. We have investigated the presence of ALA in autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (aCAH) starting in childhood. Using a modified Terasaki technique ALA were found in 17 of 18 patients with aCAH but in only one of 15 patients with alpha-1-anti-trypsin deficiency or Wilson's disease and three of 27 aged-matched healthy controls (P < 0.0005 for both). Sera from 12 patients with uncontrolled aCAH had significantly higher cytotoxicity values than sera from six children with inactive disease (P < 0.01). ALA were directed to T but not B lymphocytes and were not reactive with specific HLA antigens. No preferential killing was observed against CD4 or CD8 positive T lymphocytes. Characterization of ALA revealed them to be cold-reactive IgM. The possible role of ALA in aCAH is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Con A stimulated suppressor cell function and the proportion of suppressor T cells were reduced in children with untreated chronic active hepatitis (CAH) but were normal in corticosteroid treated CAH patients, patients with severe acute hepatitis and inactive chronic liver disease. Adults with CAH also have defective suppressor function hut a normal proportion of T suppressor cells. This difference may account for the observation that relapse after treatment withdrawal is less frequent in children than in adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proportion of T cell subsets, spontaneous and PWM stimulated immunoglobulin production by peripheral blood lymphocytes and concanavalin A- (Con A) stimulated suppressor cell activity on immunoglobulin production by B cells was studied in 37 infants and children, to investigate changes of these parameters with age. Proportion of suppressor/cytotoxic (T8+) T lymphocytes was significantly lower in children below the age of 5 years, while there was no difference in proportion of total T lymphocytes (T3+) and helper/inducer (T4+) T cells. Spontaneous production and secretion of IgG and IgM by lymphocytes from children of all age groups was similar to that found in adults, but lymphocytes of children below the age of 10 years showed a low response to PWM stimulation. The activity of Con A-induced suppressor cells in inhibiting B cells producing immunoglobulins was almost absent in infancy, gradually increased during childhood and reached adult levels in teenagers. A significant association between the proportion of T8+ cells and Con A-induced suppression of B cell proliferation and a relationship between T4+ cells and spontaneous Ig production indicated the increasing maturity with respect to both number and function of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets with advancing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]