@article{10495,
  keywords = {Animals, Epidermis, Histocompatibility Antigens Class II, Humans, Interferon-gamma, Kinetics, Langerhans Cells, leprosy, Lymphocytes, Macrophages, Mice, Monocytes, Recombinant Proteins, Skin},
  author = {Kaplan G and Nusrat A and Sarno E N and Job C K and McElrath J and Porto J A and Nathan C F and Cohn Z A},
  title = {Cellular responses to the intradermal injection of recombinant human gamma-interferon in lepromatous leprosy patients.},
  abstract = {<p>The local response to a single intradermal injection of 10 micrograms recombinant gamma-interferon (rIFN gamma) has been studied in 17 patients with lepromatous leprosy. Of these, 2 patients additionally received two intradermal injections of 10 micrograms rIFN gamma at another site. The results were compared with those of 3 patients who received three injections of the same dose at a single site in an earlier study. One to 7 days after lymphokine administration 4-mm punch biopsies were obtained and examined for cellular alterations in the dermis and epidermis. This allowed a kinetic analysis of mononuclear cell infiltration, keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, and Langerhans cell redistribution. At 24 hours, the migration of large numbers of helper T cells and monocytes was already prominent and associated with induration. Mononuclear cell accumulation peaked at 72 hours but then persisted for 5-7 days. Only small numbers (one-third or less of total T cells) of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells were present at any time, and granulocytes were absent. Two daily injections of rIFN gamma led to a more intense accumulation of cells. Ten micrograms of rIFN gamma resulted in enhanced keratinocyte proliferation, Ia expression, and thickening of the epidermis. At 24-48 hours major histocompatibility Class II (Ia) antigen was first noted on the dividing cells of the basal layer. By 72-96 hours the entire epidermis exhibited strong expression of Ia antigen on cell surfaces. Repeated doses of lymphokine accentuated these changes and resulted in a more prompt keratinization and sloughing of this layer. Whereas a single dose of rIFN gamma resulted in the upward movement of T6+ Langerhans cells (LCs) in the epidermis, two injections led to a 50% reduction in their numbers and three doses were associated with an almost total loss of detectable T6+ LCs from the epidermis. These are probably sloughed along with keratinocytes. In contrast to the situation with a delayed immune response in the skin (purified protein derivative), no LCs accumulated in the dermis in association with helper T cells.</p>},
  year = {1987},
  journal = {The American journal of pathology},
  volume = {128},
  pages = {345-53},
  month = {1987 Aug},
  issn = {0002-9440},
  language = {eng},
}