Evaluation of serum rosette inhibitory factors in chronic liver disease.

Serum rosette inhibitory factors (IF) were detected in 61% of 18 sera from HBsAg negative and in 78% of 14 sera from HBsAg positive chronic active liver disease (CALD) patients, who were not under immunosuppressive treatment. In CALD patients, who were under treatment for at least 6 months, IF were detected in 66% of the HBsAg positive patients and only in 18% of the HBsAg negative ones. After precipitation of the serum gamma-globulins by ammonium sulphate, IF were found in the supernatant only in HBsAg positive sera, while completely disappeared in HBsAg negative ones. A significant correlation between serum IF and factors reacting in immunofluorescence (IFL) with a T enriched preparation of lymphocytes was documented only in HBsAg negative cases. No correlation was found between serum IF and circulating immune complexes (IC) or lymphocytotoxins in any of the sera tested. From all these data it is concluded that serum IF detectable in HBsAg negative CALD cases are probably immunoglobulins. Our data would favour the hypothesis that they are anti-T lymphocytes antibodies, since no correlation was found between serum IF and circulating IC. Similar factors, detectable in HBsAg positive sera, are, at least in part, different. The role of such factors in the modulation of the immune response in CALD patients is discussed.