Studies on the pathogenesis of experimental chronic active hepatitis in rabbits. II. Demonstration of immunoglobulin on isolated hepatocytes.

Isolated hepatocytes of rabbits with experimentally induced chronic active hepatitis (CAH) in different stages and liver cirrhosis, respectively, and of animals without liver lesions were studied by immunofluorescence with regard to surface bound immunoglobulin. In 8 of 9 animals with CAH immunoglobulin could be demonstrated on the membranes of the hepatocytes. One animal with liver cirrhosis did not show fixed gammaglobulin; 8 animals without liver lesions which had been immunized with xenogeneic (human) together with allogeneic liver specific proteins (RLP) had no immunoglobulin bound to their hepatocytes, with one exception. The antibody titres in the serum of these animals against liver specific proteins (passive haemagglutination and gel diffusion) were not different from those in animals with liver lesions. The skin test reactivity with RLP as antigen corresponded largely to the development of liver lesions. The pathogenic importance of an antibody mediated lymphocytic cytotoxicity for the induction of CAH is discussed.