Cellular cytotoxicity against autologous hepatocytes in alcoholic liver disease

Abstract

Lymphocyte cytotoxicity against autologous hepatocytes in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) was studied. The following cytotoxicity values were found (mean .+-. SEM [standard error of the means]): alcohol-induced steatosis with or without fibrosis 16.5 .+-. 2% (29), alcoholic cirrhosis 28 .+-. 4% (13) and controls with normal liver histology or minimal changes 6 .+-. 2% (11). The differences were statistically significant (both forms of ALD vs. controls P < 0.005). T cell and non-T cell enriched lymphocyte fractions showed increased cytotoxicity in ALD. A correlation between cellular cytotoxicity and the degree of biochemical or histological alterations was not seen within the groups tested. Enhanced cellular cytotoxicity against autologous hepatocytes in ALD supported the hypothesis that cellular immune reactions were involved in the pathogenesis of ALD, especially of alcoholic cirrhosis.