01428nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001200059653001800071653002100089653001200110653001600122653000900138653002500147100001900172700001500191700001300206245004600219300001000265490000700275520089000282022001401172       1990                            d  c1990 Sep-Oct10aAnimals10aImmunotherapy10aInterferon-gamma10aleprosy10aMacrophages10aMice10aMycobacterium leprae1 aKrahenbuhl J L1 aSibley L D1 aChae G T00aGamma interferon in experimental leprosy.  a405-90 v133 a<p>We have shown that preactivated MACs are able to cope with newly acquired leprosy bacilli, and a high intracellular burden of live M. leprae induces a refractory response of the host MAC to activation by IFN-gamma. Our studies underscore the fact that MAC function in LL is dependent on localized conditions, influenced by the high intracellular burden of leprosy bacilli and, in part, involving the production of prostanoids. These findings preclude inferences about the function of granuloma MAC s in leprosy based on the responses of MACs from other easily accessible anatomical compartments such as the peritoneal cavity or peripheral blood. We feel that the clearance of bacilli from the LL lesion as a consequence of local immunotherapeutic measures or chemotherapy likely depends on the influx of new competent MAC rather than the activation of resident lepromatous MACs.</p>  a0732-8893