Injurious effect on rat liver mitochondria by lymphocytes from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

Lymphocytes from primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients were shown to have an injurious effect on rat liver mitochondria, as was demonstrated by the inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory control by these cells. The incubation of the PBC patients' lymphocytes with isolated rat liver mitochondria produced a significant inhibition of mitochondrial respiration in the presence of ADP. However, no significant effect on respiration was seen with control lymphocytes of normal persons or with lymphocytes from patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and miscellaneous liver diseases. The results suggest that this injurious effect of PBC lymphocytes on mitochondria might be a consequence of sensitization in vivo of the PBC patients' lymphocytes by the mitochondrial antigens.