Activation of monocytes by portal serum and its relationship to immunoglobulin, immune complex and endotoxin content

Abstract

— To investigate the possibility that a “spillover effect” of substances from the portal vein into the systemic circulation accounts for the abnormal monocyte function in patients with liver disease, we have incubated human peripheral blood monocytes with paired specimens of portal and systemic serum from humans and rabbits. Monocytes incubated with portal serum released more of a lysosomal enzyme, N-acetyl-B-glucosaminidase, than those incubated with systemic serum (pin vitro and may play a role in the pathogenesis of certain types of liver disease.