Effect of specific and nonspecific immune complexes on injury of intact hepatocytes in vitro.

Immune complex (IC)-mediated cytotoxicity of hepatocytes was investigated in vitro, using antibodies against specific and nonspecific target cell surface membranes. The results indicated that neither specific, nor nonspecific IC evoked significant lysis of intact hepatocytes. Thus, the IC are unlikely to play an important role in the immune-associated injury of normal hepatocytes in acute and chronic liver diseases.