Expression of a Novel Protein by Regenerating Hepatocytes and Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes

Abstract

ABSTRACT Regeneration and tolerance factor (RTF) is a protein with immunosuppressive activity and is normally present in the thymus and placenta. RTF was measured in the livers of patients with regenerating nodules due to alcoholic cirrhosis and hepatitis C. RTF was expressed in the regenerating nodules of 26 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. All patients with chronic hepatitis C without cirrhosis failed to express RTF. Flow cytometry revealed upregulation of RTF on the lymphocytes from alcoholic cirrhosis and downregulation in hepatitis C disease.