@article{18467,
  keywords = {Antigens, Bacterial, Cells, Cultured, Heat-Shock Proteins, Humans, In Vitro Techniques, Interleukin-6, Lepromin, Leprosy, lepromatous, Leprosy, Tuberculoid, Mycobacterium},
  author = {Launois P and Vandenbussche P and M'Bayame N N and Drowart A and Van Vooren J P and Sarthou J L and Millan J and Huygen K},
  title = {IL-6 production in response to purified mycobacterial heat-shock proteins and to antigen 85 in leprosy.},
  abstract = {<p>IL-6 production was examined in PBMC cultures from healthy leprosy contacts and from leprosy patients stimulated with the purified mycobacterial 18-, 65-, and 70-kDa heat-shock proteins (hsp) and the secreted fibronectin-binding antigen 85 (Ag85). In lepromin-negative contacts, the 70-kDa hsp was the only antigen capable of eliciting significant IL-6 production. In lepromin-positive contacts, Ag85, the 65- and the 70-kDa hsp induced substantial IL-6 titers. IL-6 levels induced with the 70-kDa antigen were about fourfold higher than with the 65-kDa hsp or with Ag85. The 18-kDa antigen did not induce any IL-6 in these healthy contacts. PBMC from tuberculoid leprosy patients produced even more elevated levels of IL-6, and PBMC from lepromatous leprosy patients produced extremely high levels of IL-6. All antigens were capable of inducing IL-6 in leprosy patients. Highest levels were found in cultures stimulated with the 65-kDa hsp, and lowest levels were in cultures stimulated with the 18-kDa hsp.</p>},
  year = {1993},
  journal = {Cellular immunology},
  volume = {148},
  pages = {283-90},
  month = {1993 May},
  issn = {0008-8749},
  doi = {10.1006/cimm.1993.1112},
  language = {eng},
}