Usefulness of liver infiltrating CD86-positive mononuclear cells for diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis

Figure 1 Isolation of PBMCs and LIMCs from peripheral blood and liver biopsy specimens in the patients with AIH and CH-C by using density gradient centrifugation. The cells were stained with anti-CD80, anti-CD86, anti-CD152 and anti-CD95 antibodies and analyzed using flow cytometry. The percentage of cells positive for those costimulatory molecules is shown. CD80+, CD86+ and CD152+ cells were significantly higher in LIMCs compared to PBMC in patients with AIH. The difference of CD86+ cells between LIMCs and PBMCs was more striking than that of CD80+ cells between LIMCs and PBMCs. (a) represents the significant difference (P < 0.05) from the data of PBMCs and (c) shows the significant difference (P < 0.05) of LIMCs between AIH and CH-C.

Figure 2 Laparoscopic findings, liver biopsy and clinical course after the administration of corticosteroids of a patient with AIH reactive to corticosteroids. A: Laparoscopic findings showing many reddish markings on the liver surface, indicating that the ongoing hepatitis was active; B: microscopic observation of the liver showing formation of rosette and bridging necrosis, infiltration of a large number of lymphocytes and plasma cells; and C: time-course of the levels of ALT and AST after the administration of corticosteroids. The levels of ALT and AST were rapidly decreased to normal ones after administration of corticosteroids.

Figure 3 Laparoscopic findings, liver biopsy and clinical course after the administration of corticosteroids of a AIH patient non-reactive to corticosteroids. A: Laparoscopic view showing many reddish markings on the surface of the liver and small lymph cysts; B: microscopic findings of the liver showing bridging necrosis, infiltration of a large number of lymphocytes and plasma cells; and C: the time-course of the levels of ALT and AST after the administration of corticosteroids. The levels of ALT and AST were not improved to normal level after administration of corticosteroids.