[Intrahepatic cholestasis: modulation by immunological factors?].

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Immunology
• Cellular Biology

Background:

• The pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis in active liver disease remains unclear.
• Previous research suggested lymphocytes might produce a cholestatic factor in drug-induced hepatitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of cellular immune phenomena in the pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis.
• To determine if lymphocytes from patients with alcoholic and viral hepatitis produce a cholestatic factor.

Main Methods:

• Culturing lymphocytes from patients with alcoholic hepatitis and acute viral hepatitis.
• Stimulating lymphocytes with specific antigens.
• Assessing the effect of lymphocyte supernatants and patient sera on bile flow and bile acid excretion in a rat model.

Main Results:

• Supernatants from antigen-stimulated lymphocytes of hepatitis patients significantly reduced bile flow and bile acid excretion in rats.
• Sera from these patients exhibited a similar cholestatic effect.
• These findings suggest a role for cellular immune mechanisms in intrahepatic cholestasis.

Conclusions:

• Cellular immune phenomena, mediated by lymphocytes, appear significant in the pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis.
• A lymphocytic cholestatic factor is implicated in alcoholic and viral hepatitis.
• The precise mechanism of this lymphocytic factor requires further investigation.