S: Lymphocyte populations in liver biopsy specimens from patients with chronic liver disease. Gut

SUMMARY The characterisation of lymphocytes from liver biopsies indicates that 'activated' T lymphocytes are present in the liver in alcohol induced hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis (HBS + ve and-ve), and in primary biliary cirrhosis but not in inactive cirrhosis, chronic persistent hepatitis, extrahepatic and drug induced cholestasis. A greater percentage of lymphocytes bear Fc-receptors in chronic active hepatitis than in alcohol induced hepatitis or cholestatic liver disease. The concentra-tion of 'activated ' T cells in the peripheral blood in all groups studied was within the normal range, suggesting that the 'activated ' T cells found in the liver were reacting to either native or foreign antigens within the liver. The data on Fc-receptor bearing cells are consistent with the involvement of antibody assisted K cell mediated cytotoxicity in chronic active hepatitis. Several lines of evidence suggest that immunological mechanisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of some types of chronic liver disease. In vitro studies have demonstrated that the peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with lupoid or type B chronic active hepatitis are cytotoxic for heter