02200nas a2200349   4500000000100000008004100001260000900042653001500051653001000066653002600076653002400102653002500126653001800151653002300169653004200192653001100234653001100245653002400256653001200280653002600292653000900318653001600327653002500343100001400368700001200382700001400394245013500408300001100543490000600554520127600560022001401836       1990                            d  c199010aAdolescent10aAdult10aAntibodies, Bacterial10aAntigens, Bacterial10aB-Lymphocyte Subsets10aB-Lymphocytes10aBacterial Proteins10aElectrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional10aFemale10aHumans10aIn Vitro Techniques10aleprosy10aLymphocyte Activation10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aMycobacterium leprae1 aMahon A C1 aGebre N1 aNurlign A00aThe response of human B cells to Mycobacterium leprae. Identification of target antigens following polyclonal activation in vitro.  a803-120 v23 a<p>We have investigated the B cell response to Mycobacterium leprae in leprosy patients and healthy controls. A comparison of Western-blotted proteins separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and probed with pooled sera from LL and BT patients revealed distinct antigen recognition patterns for the two classifications of the disease. To characterize the circulating B cells capable of producing anti-M. leprae antibodies in vitro, peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures were activated polyclonally with an anti-CD3 mAb. The resulting culture supernatants were used to probe Western-blotted M.leprae proteins and contained antibody reactive with a 10 kd M.leprae antigen. This antibody was absent in stimulated culture supernatants from healthy occupational contacts or unexposed controls, suggesting the specificity of the response. Distinct repertoires of serum and culture supernatant anti-M.leprae antibodies were observed when Western-blotted antigens were probed after two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. This method for assay of specific antibody production against individual components present in a complex mixture of antigens after polyclonal activation in vitro may be used to study the regulation of B cell activation in leprosy and other diseases.</p>  a0953-8178