Summary
Lymphocyte transformation induced by phytohemagglutinin (P.H.A.) was measured in 42 patients with or without hepatitis-associated antigen(H.A.A.). Cell-mediated immunity to purified H.A.A. was also investigated using macrophage migration inhibition test in the same 24 patients with H.A.A. Patients were divided into the following groups : acute hepatitis, fulminant hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and carriers. All patients with acute liver disease were impaired in P.H.A.-induced lymphocyte transformation when their samples were examined in the early course after onset of jaundice. Then impaired lymphocyte transformation was restored to normal prior to the recovery of liver function. Inhibition of macrophage migration was found in all but one of the H.A.A.-positive patients with acute liver disease. They subsequently revocered and cleared H.A.A. Of the H.A.A.-positive patients with chronic liver disease, 40% was suppressed in lymphocyte transformation, but of the H.A.A.-negative ones, only 17% was suppressed. Cell-mediated immunity to H.A.A. was observed in 5 of 15 patients with chronic liver disease. These 5 patients have had H.A.A. Of carriers, inhibition of migration was shown in none and lymphocyte transformation was reduced in a third. This study has demonstrated that cell-mediated immune response may be associated with persistence of H.A.A. and the degree of liver cell damage.
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Kakumu, S., Hara, T., Ito, S. et al. Relationship between cell-mediated immunity and hepatitis-associated antigen in liver diseases. Gastroenterol Jpn 9, 281–286 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02774794
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02774794