1. T-cell-directed hepatocyte damage in autoimmune chronic active hepatitis.
- Author
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Wen, L, Peakman, M, Lobo-Yeo, A, McFarlane, B M, Mowat, A P, Mieli-Vergani, G, and Vergani, D
- Subjects
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T cells , *AUTOANTIBODIES , *AUTOIMMUNE diseases , *CELL division , *CELLS , *CHRONIC diseases , *COMPARATIVE studies , *HEPATITIS , *RESEARCH methodology , *MEDICAL cooperation , *RESEARCH , *EVALUATION research , *PHYSIOLOGY - Abstract
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]
- Published
- 1990
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