Leukaemic liver infiltration in AKR mice prematurely induced by immunization with human or allogeneic liver protein.

An attempt was made to produce a model of autoimmune hepatitis in AKR mice by immunization with allogeneic liver extract or a purified (human) liver-specific lipoprotein (LSP). Although a mononuclear infiltrate was found in the liver in recipients of purified liver antigen and to a lesser degree in recipients of allogeneic extract, this was associated with the development of an acute thymus-derived leukaemia. This mouse strain is normally susceptible to leukaemia after a latent period of approximately 6 to 9 months but the immunization schedule markedly reduced the age of onset of this disease.