Immune regulation and HLA types in chronic hepatitis

Abstract

Studies were undertaken in 32 patients with hepatitis B-negative or -positive chronic active hepatitis or chronic persistent hepatitis to define the relationship between immunoregulatory activity and the HLA-B8 and B12 phenotypes. Suppressor T-cell activity measured by a concanavalin A-induced suppressor system using allogeneic responder cells was dependent on which individual was selected as a source of responder cells. No differences were noted using isogeneic cells as responders. Suppressor T-cell activity measured by the effect of a noninduced suppressor cell on a mixed leukocyte culture was not different from controls. Increased prostaglandin-producing suppressor cell activity was found in patients with hepatitis B-negative (p less than 0.005) and hepatitis B-positive (p less than 0.05) chronic active activity hepatitis. When results of the suppressor activities were compared among patients with chronic hepatitis dependent on the presence of HLA-B8, B12, or neither of these phenotypes, no significant differences were present. These results provide further evidence of altered immunoregulatory function in patients with chronic active hepatitis, which may reflect increased suppression by a population of prostaglandin-producing suppressor cells. The results do not, however, suggest that a gene coding for altered immune regulation is linked to HLA-B8 or B12.

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

“…The initial report of a decrease in Con A-induced SCA in patients with CAH (11) prompted the present study to determine the effect of thymosin on suppressor T cell function. Subsequent investigations have also described alterations in suppressor activity in patients with CAH employing assays that monitor T cell suppression of pokeweed mitogen-induced immunoglobulin synthesis (12), mitogen (Con-A) -induced suppressor T cells (14), short-lived suppressor T cells (13), prostaglandin-producing suppressor (monocyte) cells (35), and spontaneous suppressor (monocyte) cells (14).…”

The Detrimental Effects of Adrenocorticosteroid Therapy in Hbsag–Positive Chronic Active Hepatitis: Fact or Artifact?

“…The patients were all Chinese. No differences in HLA types or immune regulation have been found between patients with HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative CAH (21). Although ethnic differences could explain the different results, there is no reason to think that they did.…”