01275nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653002000055653000800075653001100083653001200094653001600106653002500122653001700147653002500164653001800189653001800207100001800225700001400243245010700257300001100364490000700375520061300382022001400995       1980                            d  c1980 Jun10aCells, Cultured10aDNA10aHumans10aleprosy10aMacrophages10aMycobacterium leprae10aPhagocytosis10aProtein Biosynthesis10aReceptors, Fc10aSchwann Cells1 aMahadevan P R1 aAntia N H00aBiochemical alteration in cells following phagocytosis of M. leprae--the consequence--a basic concept.  a167-710 v483 a<p>When macrophages from lepromatous leprosy patients are exposed to M. leprae, the macrophages show reduced protein synthesis. Such a phenomenon is not seen with macrophages from tuberculoid patients or normal individuals. M. leprae phagocytized by Schwann cells affect the incorporation of DNA precursor in the cells, leading to failure of Schwann cell association with axons in in vitro cultures. These 2 observations form a basis of proposing that basic biochemical events take place when M. leprae are associated with host cells, which in turn can be amplified to physiologically functional defects.</p>  a0148-916X