@article{15517,
  keywords = {Antibodies, Monoclonal, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Granuloma, Histocompatibility Antigens Class II, Humans, leprosy, Leukocyte Count, Phagocytes, Skin, T-Lymphocytes},
  author = {Narayanan R B and Bhutani L K and Sharma A K and Nath I},
  title = {T cell subsets in leprosy lesions: in situ characterization using monoclonal antibodies.},
  abstract = {<p>Cryostat sections of dermal lesions from 30 untreated leprosy patients were studied by indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies defining T cell subsets and Ia like antigens. Most lymphocytes in leprosy lesions were positive for OKT3 and Ia like antigens indicating thereby the presence of activated T cells. Maximal numbers of these cells were seen in localized paucibacillary tuberculoid leprosy lesions in close association with epithelioid cells. A decline in their numbers was observed over the leprosy spectrum with a marked reduction in disseminated, multi-bacillary, lepromatous leprosy where only scattered OKT3+ cells were visualized. OKT4 and OKT8 positive cells defining T cell subsets, were frequently found within the OKT3+ lymphocytes throughout the leprosy spectrum. The ratio of OKT4+/OKT8+ cells ranged from 1.2 to 5.0 in tuberculoid and from 0.2 to 1.0 in lepromatous lesions. Macrophages in the granulomas stained intensely with anti-Ia antisera. Ia like antigens were expressed to the same degree on macrophages with or without intracellular acid fast bacilli.</p>},
  year = {1983},
  journal = {Clinical and experimental immunology},
  volume = {51},
  pages = {421-9},
  month = {1983 Mar},
  issn = {0009-9104},
  language = {eng},
}