Longitudinal study of major histocompatibility complex antigen expression on hepatocytes in fine-needle aspiration biopsies from human liver grafts.

Expression of MHC class II antigens on hepatocytes is part of the natural history of liver grafts. The expression appears to be enhanced by rejection episodes but not during infection and seems to persist on higher levels in chronic rejection and multigraft recipients. Intense expression of class I antigens is a nonspecific feature of the posttransplant situation.