A possible involvement of the macrophage-mediated hepatocytotoxicity in chronic active hepatitis

The induction of liver cell injury by culture supernatant of MAF-activated macrophages

Abstract

When the peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with various types of hepatitis were stimulated in vitro with liver specific protein, lymphocyte transformation and MIF production were detectable in many cases, especially in chronic active hepatitis. MAF-containing culture supernatants of these lymphocyte activated guinea pig macrophages inhibited the albumin biosynthesis of the isolated liver cells. These results suggest a possibility that the soluble substances released from activated macrophages are involved in the immunological pathogenesis of chronic active hepatitis in addition to the involvement of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.