Cell-mediated immunity to liver antigen in toxic liver injury. II. Role in pathogenesis of liver damage.

The possible pathogenetic role of lymphocytes sensitized to liver antigens was investigated in CBA mice in which sublethal hepatic necrosis had been induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Sensitized lymphocytes from CCl4-treated mice were administered to syngeneic recipients. The recipients developed sensitivity to liver antigens but showed no evidence of liver damage. The cell mediating the immune response both in the donor and the recipient was a T cell. This was demonstrated further by studies involving mice rendered T cell deficient. These mice did not develop sensitized lymphocytes when they were treated with CCl4 but the extent of liver damage was similar in both T cell-depleted and intact animals. These findings suggest that T cell sensitization to liver antigens occurs as a result of toxic liver damage and does not play a role in the pathogenesis of the hepatic necrosis.