T lymphocyte reactivity of leprosy patients and healthy contacts from a leprosy-endemic population to delipidified cell components of Mycobacterium leprae.

Abstract

In this study, we measured in vitro proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from both leprosy patients across the clinical spectrum and also healthy contacts from a leprosy-endemic population to delipidified cell components of Mycobacterium leprae (DCC) and Dharmendra lepromin. Dharmendra lepromin was poor in inducing in vitro T cell proliferation in all the study groups, even though it elicited marked in vivo skin test reaction in tuberculoid leprosy patients and healthy contacts. In contrast, Dharmendra preparation of BCG induced marked T-cell response in tuberculoid as well as bacterial index negative lepromatous patients. DCC induced a significantly higher lymphoproliferative response than Dharmendra lepromin in all study groups. A significant positive correlation was observed between the lymphoproliferative responses to DCC and BCG. The present study, based on a large number of leprosy patients and healthy contacts, clearly demonstrates that DCC, depleted of glycolipids and lipopolysaccharides, is a good antigenic preparation for evaluating T-cell reactivity to M. leprae.

• Authors: S Ilangumaran, P Robinson, N P Shankernarayan, G Ramu, P R Mahadevan, V R Muthukkaruppan
• Journal: Leprosy review (Lepr Rev) Vol. 65 Issue 1 Pg. 34-44 (Mar 1994) ISSN: 0305-7518 [Print] England
• PMID: 8201834 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Bacterial
• Lepromin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antigens, Bacterial (immunology)
• Female
• Humans
• Lepromin (immunology)
• Leprosy (blood, classification, immunology)
• Lymphocyte Activation
• Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mycobacterium bovis (immunology)
• Mycobacterium leprae (drug effects, immunology)