ISSN:
1573-2592
Keywords:
Chronic active hepatitis
;
T-cell subsets
;
monoclonal antibodies
;
“autoimmune” hepatitis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Three monoclonal anti-T-cell antibodies, specifically directed against total T cells (OKT3), inducer-helper T cells (OKT4), and suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (OKT8), were used in this study to analyze peripheral T-cell subsets in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and -negative chronic active hepatitis (CAH) patients. Results showed that a clear-cut difference exists in the distribution of peripheral T cells of these two groups of subjects. HBsAg-positive CAH patients had a numerical predominance of peripheral T lymphocytes expressing the characteristics of cytotoxic/suppressor T cells. In contrast, patients with “autoimmune” HBsAg-negative CAH exhibit a predominance of OKT4+ T cells, namely, the helper-inducer T-cell subset. In addition, high numbers of circulating doubly labeled cells (expressing both the OKT4 and the OKT8 xenoantigens) were detected in some of the HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative CAH patients studied.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00916892
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