Autoimmunity and liver diseases.

After reviewing recent advances in the characterization of the target antigens for antimitochondrial antibodies in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and liver-kidney microsomal (LKM) antibodies in CAH, we have concentrated on a discussion of cellular and humoral immune reactions to normal hepatocyte components exposed on the plasma membrane, which could conceivably play a role in the pathogenesis of both classic autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (CAH) and virus-induced acute anc chronic hepatitis