Immunoglobulin-containing cells in the liver.

Liver samples from sixty-four patients with hepato-biliary diseases, and from twenty-three with miscellaneous (primarily non-hepatic) conditions, were examined by the fluorescent antibody technique for mononuclear cells containing immunoglobulins G, A, M and D. Immunoglobulin-containing cells (`Ig-cells') were found not only in liver diseases but also in non-hepatic diseases. IgA was the predominant cell type in liver diseases, except in primary biliary cirrhosis where IgM was the main cell type. In primarily non-hepatic diseases when a significant lymphoid infiltration was present, high `Ig-cell' counts were often observed, IgG being the predominant cell type. IgD cells were found in the livers of five patients with cirrhosis and in one patient with carcinoma of the thyroid. The mean `Ig-cell' counts of patients with lymphoid infiltration was higher than that of patients without such infiltration. Also, the mean Ig-cell count was higher in the presence than in the absence of piecemeal necrosis. High serum immunoglobulin levels were not necessarily associated with high `Ig-cell' counts in the liver. However, when more than one cell per high power field containing a certain immunoglobulin was seen, the respective serum immunoglobulin level was almost always above the normal mean. This suggested that in some patients hepatic `Ig-cells' may contribute to serum immunoglobulin levels.