Identification of intrahepatic lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with fulminant hepatitis by the immunoenzymatic technique, using monoclonal antibodies.

Intrahepatic lymphocyte subpopulations were studied in 11 patients with fulminant hepatitis (FH) (of whom 9 cases died) by the immunoenzymatic technique, using monoclonal T cell specific antibodies and other reagents. In peripheral blood, the OKT4 positive cells: OKT8 positive cells ratio in FH was higher than that in normal controls. In liver tissue, OKT8 positive cells were the predominant type of T cells, and these cells were in broad contact with the surface of the hepatocyte. Leu7 positive, OKT4/4a positive and Leu 15 positive cells were scarce and did not contact the hepatocyte. These results suggest that cytotoxic T cells may play an important role in hepatocyte necrosis in patients with FH.