@article{8739,
  keywords = {CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Dendritic Cells, Dinitrochlorobenzene, Foam Cells, Granuloma, HLA-DR Antigens, Humans, Hypersensitivity, Delayed, Immunity, Cellular, Immunohistochemistry, Interferon-gamma, Keratinocytes, Leprosy, lepromatous, Leprosy, Tuberculoid, Macrophages, Receptors, Interleukin-2, T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory},
  author = {Volc-Platzer B and Kremsner P and Stemberger H and Wiedermann G},
  title = {Restoration of defective cytokine activity within lepromatous leprosy lesions.},
  abstract = {<p>Immunohistological studies of tuberculoid leprosy lesions (TT-lesions) showed a dense, well organized granuloma consisting of a central area with epitheloid and giant cells containing interferon-gamma (IFN-Gamma) and CD3+, CD4+ T helper/inducer (Th/i) cells, a considerable proportion of which expressed the interleukin-2-receptor (IL-2 R). This central area was surrounded by round cells which consisted mainly of CD3+/CD8+ T cytotoxic/suppressor (Tc/s) lymphocytes. The overlying keratinocytes (KC) were strongly positive for HLA-DR antigens on the surface, indicating high intralesional IFN-Gamma activity. In contrast, lepromatous leprosy lesions (LL-lesions) showed a disorganized infiltrate composed by foamy cells and round cells, the latter mainly expressing the CD3+/CD8+ phenotype. IFN-Gamma activity could not be detected within the lesions. The KC overlying the infiltrate were consistently negative for HLA/DR reactivity pointing to a defective intralesional IFN-Gamma production in LL patients. Two out of four patients with LL leprosy could be sensitized with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). The eliciting of DNCB skin reactions within the LL-lesion led to the recruitment of new infiltrating cells; the resulting infiltrate resembled a local reversal towards the tuberculoid pole of leprosy.</p>},
  year = {1990},
  journal = {Zentralblatt fur Bakteriologie : international journal of medical microbiology},
  volume = {272},
  pages = {458-66},
  month = {1990 Apr},
  issn = {0934-8840},
  doi = {10.1016/s0934-8840(11)80047-2},
  language = {eng},
}