RESTRICTION OF V-BETA-GENE USAGE OF LIVER-DERIVED LYMPHOCYTES IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS-B AND HEPATITIS-C

T lymphocytes have been reported to be the predominant inflammatory ce lls in the liver of patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Their prese nce may reflect either nonspecific inflammation or a virus-specific im mune response. To assess the repertoire of intra-hepatic T cells, we i nvestigated the TCR V beta gene usage of T cells in 10 patients with c hronic hepatitis B and 15 with chronic hepatitis C. Liver-derived lymp hocytes and pe ripheral blood lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytome try. Five out of the 10 hepatitis B patients were found to have an acc umulation of certain V beta T cells in the liver (V beta 6.7; V beta 6 .7; V beta 3.1, V beta 5.1, and V beta 6.7; V beta 3.1;V beta 12.1, re spectively). Four our of the 15 hepatitis C patients were found to hav e an accumulation of certain VP T cells in the liver (V beta 5.1; V be ta 8 and V beta 5.2 and 5.3; V beta 3.1 and V beta 5.2 and 5.3; V beta 3.1 and V beta 12.1, respectively). Despite a limited screening of V beta subfamilies, this study indicates that, in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C, T cells using a certain V beta gene may accumulate in the liver. This suggests that intra-hepatic T cells are oligoclonal and possibly virus specific. Our results argue against the role of a superantigen in perpetuating liver disease. In addition, this study su pports a role for T lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatit is C.