Abstract
The cholestatic factor, a lymphokine, has been shown to be produced from the lymph node cells of sensitized guinea pigs in vitro by stimulation with a specific antigen, PPD (purified protein derivatives). Two active fractions can be prepared from the supernatant of the medium by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration and DEAE cellulose column chromatography. When these fractions are injected into the mesenteric vein of normal rats, a marked reduction in bile flow is induced. Since dimeric immunoglobulin A (IgA) is richly contained in the bile and it is rapidly and actively transported from the blood to bile by hepatocytes, the authors investigated the effect of the cholestatic factor on dimeric IgA transport. As a result, this lymphokine induced a fall in dimeric IgA secretion, suggesting that it may also influence the vesicular transport system of the hepatocyte.
