Activation of Liver-Specific CD8+ and CD4+ T Cells in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an unresolving inflammatory liver disease of unknown etiology. Tissue injury seems to be mediated by autoreactive lymphocytes but the pathogenesis of AIH remains poorly understood. To investigate liver-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses and the role of autoreactive T lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of AIH, we have generated transgenic mice that express the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) model antigen in the liver under the control of albumin regulatory elements (Alb-HA mice). Adoptive transfer of transgenic TCR-CL4 CD8+ T cells specific for HA into Alb-HA mice leads to an a…