Cell-mediated immunity and suppressor-T-cell defects to liver-derived antigens in families of patients with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis.

By means of an indirect T-lymphocyte migration inhibitory factor assay, T-cell sensitisation to the asialoglycoprotein receptor, a liver-specific protein on the surface of hepatocytes, was found in patients with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (CAH) but not in healthy relatives or spouses. Cellular immunity to a liver-derived lipoprotein complex (LSP) which also contains the asialoglycoprotein receptor, and to which immune reactions have been previously demonstrated in patients with CAH, was also examined. In contrast to the findings with the purified asialoglycoprotein receptor, cell-mediated sensitisation to LSP was detected in all the patients and also in 24% of first-degree relatives and 27% of spouses, suggesting an environmental influence. There was a functional defect in suppressor T lymphocytes specific for liver-derived antigens in 50% of first-degree relatives and 43% of second-degree relatives, but in only 9% of spouses. This abnormality of immunoregulation may be genetically determined and crucial to the development of the disease.