Liver specific Iipoprotein-induced autoimmune hepatitis in mice

Autoimmune hepatitis is a kind of chronic. progressive liver injury which is characterized by the presence of several kinds of circulating liver membrane autoantibodies such as anti-LSP (liver specific lipoprotein). In this study. mice autoimmune hepatitis was induced by repeated sc immunization with heterogeneic and syngeneic LSP which was prepared by ultra-centrifugation and chromatography of liver homogenates. Serum high titer anti-LSP was detected by ELISA in C57BL mice immunized with rabbit LSP after l0-15wk. Human hepatitis B vaccine 25 ng/mouse sc once a week was given with LSP to accelerate the formation of liver injuries for 4 wk. Liver histological changes revealed mainly the mononuclear cell infiltration. pericholangitis and hepatocellular piecemeal necrosis which were mimic to human chronic active hepatitis. When using of Con A and 2'-deoxyguanosine as Ts inhibitors challenged together with syngeneic LSP in C57BL and JCR mice. the degree and number of mice with liver damages increased and was observed only after 3 wk. These results suggested that clinical hepatitis B virus infection and T disfunction may potentiate liver autoimmune reactions.