Studies on experimental chronic active hepatitis in the rabbit. I. Induction of the disease by immunization with muscle as well as liver proteins.

Rabbits given weekly injections of two human liver-specific proteins, one a cell membrane antigen known as LSP, the other a cytoplasmic protein known as LP2, in combination with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) developed chronic active hepatitis. Although this lesion persisted for at least 1 year in some animals, cirrhosis did not supervene. Chronic active hepatitis was also produced by injection of the membrane protein LSP in CFA, without LP2. Unexpectedly, injection of a human skeletal muscle extract in CFA also caused chronic active hepatitis. It is possible therefore that sensitization to antigens other than liver-specific proteins may play a part in the pathogenesis of chronic active hepatitis.