LIVER AND IMMUNE-RESPONSES .5. REGENERATING LIVER-CELLS ACTIVATE SYNGENEIC LYMPHOCYTES

The ability of regenerating liver cells to stimulate in vitro DNA synthetic response of syngeneic lymphocytes was studied in the rat. Lymphocytes were cultured with mitomycin-C treated liver cells prepared from rats, after partial hepatectomy (HEP) and [3H]thymidine uptake assayed. Lymphocyte stimulation was observed with liver cells removed 2 days after HEP; it was highest with cells of rats 6 days after HEP and declined thereafter. For a positive reaction, a cell-to-cell contact was needed. Specific secondary response and morphological appearance suggested an immunological nature of the reaction. Lymphocyte stimulating differentiation antigens may be involved in the process of hepatic regeneration. © 1979.