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Increased thymic hormone responsive suppressor T lymphocyte function in chronic active hepatitis

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Abstract

Mitogen-induced suppressor T lymphocyte function was evaluated in patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH). Thein vitro effect of the biological response modifier, thymosin fraction 5, on the suppressive activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) was also assessed. Suppressor cell activity was significantly decreased in patients with CAH when compared to controls (P<0.001). In the absence of the inducing mitogen, thymosin-treated PBM from both patients and controls promoted enhancement of tritiated thymidine uptake by cocultured allogeneic lymphocytes. When thymosin-treated mononuclear cells were mitogen-activated; patients, but not the controls, showed a marked increase in suppressor activity (P<0.001). These results indicate that the polypeptides contained in thymosin fraction 5 can promote a helper effect in patients and controls. Furthermore, PBM from patients with CAH contain a subset of lymphocytes that can express a suppressive function following thymosin treatment. We conclude that thymosin fraction 5 can promote anin vitro restoration of suppressor T cell function in patients with CAH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan

    Milton G. Mutchnick MD, John A. Schaffner MD, Jorge A. Prieto MD, Frederick E. Weller MA & Allan L. Goldstein PhD

  2. Department of Medicine, Ann Arbor V.A. Medical Center, 2215 Fuller Road, 48105, Ann Arbor, Michigan

    Milton G. Mutchnick MD, John A. Schaffner MD, Jorge A. Prieto MD, Frederick E. Weller MA & Allan L. Goldstein PhD

  3. Department of Biochemistry, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC

    Milton G. Mutchnick MD, John A. Schaffner MD, Jorge A. Prieto MD, Frederick E. Weller MA & Allan L. Goldstein PhD

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  1. Milton G. Mutchnick MD
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  2. John A. Schaffner MD
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  3. Jorge A. Prieto MD
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  4. Frederick E. Weller MA
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  5. Allan L. Goldstein PhD
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This study was supported by the Veterans Administration.

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Mutchnick, M.G., Schaffner, J.A., Prieto, J.A. et al. Increased thymic hormone responsive suppressor T lymphocyte function in chronic active hepatitis. Digest Dis Sci 28, 328–334 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01324949

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01324949

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