Immunoregulatory T-cell function in acute and chronic liver disease

The suppressor function of T cells separated from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with acute or chronic liver disease was evaluated by using, as an indicator system, pokeweed mitogen-induced immunoglobulin synthesis in vitro. Suppressor activity of T cells was enhanced during the recovery phase in 13 or 17 patients who have recovered from acute viral hepatitis. When such T cells were irradiated before coculture, the suppressor function was selectively eliminated, but the helper T-cell function remained unchanged. In serial studies, normalization of the excess suppressor function of T cells was observed when the liver function of an acute viral hepatitis patient returned to the normal range. Except for chronic active liver disease, in which the suppressor activity of T cells was substantially reduced in 50% of the patients studied. the studies indicated normal T-cell functions, both suppressor and helper, in other liver diseases such as chronic persistent hepatitis, inactive cirrhosis, and fatty liver disease. These data sugest that the host immunoregulatory mechanism might be important in recovering from acute viral hepatitis and in perpetuating hepatocyte injury in chronic active liver disease.