@article{6287,
  keywords = {Animals, Antigen-Presenting Cells, leprosy, Macrophages, Mice, Mycobacterium leprae, T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic, Up-Regulation},
  author = {Kimura H and Maeda Y and Takeshita F and Takaoka L E and Matsuoka M and Makino M},
  title = {Upregulation of T-cell-stimulating activity of mycobacteria-infected macrophages.},
  abstract = {<p>Macrophages are one of the most abundant host cells to come in contact with mycobacteria. However, the infected macrophages less efficiently stimulate autologous T cells in vitro. We investigated the effect of the induction of phenotypic change of macrophages on the host cell activities by using Mycobacterium leprae as a pathogen. The treatment of macrophages with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), GM-CSF and interleukin-4 deprived macrophages of CD14 antigen expression but instead provided them with CD1a, CD83 and enhanced CD86 antigen expression. These phenotypic features resembled those of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC). These macrophage-derived DC-like cells (MACDC) stimulated autologous CD4+ and CD8+ T cells when infected with M. leprae. Further enhancement of the antigen-presenting function and CD1a expression of macrophages was observed when treated with IFN-gamma. The M. leprae-infected and -treated macrophages expressed bacterial cell membrane-derived antigens on the surface and were efficiently cytolysed by the cell membrane antigen-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). These results suggest that the induction of phenotypic changes in macrophages can lead to the upregulation of host defence activity against M. leprae.</p>},
  year = {2004},
  journal = {Scandinavian journal of immunology},
  volume = {60},
  pages = {278-86},
  month = {2004 Sep},
  issn = {0300-9475},
  doi = {10.1111/j.0300-9475.2004.01472.x},
  language = {eng},
}