A critical problem in leprosy is the relative deficiency of antigen-specific T cell-mediated immunity. We were successful in detecting a significant response to viable M. leprae in mononuclear cells isolated from the lymph nodes of lepromatous leprosy patients in contrast to the apparent M. leprae-specific energy seen in the peripheral blood. This observation suggests that antigen-reactive lymphocytes are generated in the lymph nodes of lepromatous patients but the inability to detect them in the circulation may be due either to a different processing and presentation of mycobacterial antigens within the peripheral blood and lymph node compartments or to a selective sequestration of lymphocytes within the lymph node.
BT - Scandinavian journal of immunology C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3045948?dopt=Abstract DA - 1988 Aug DO - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1988.tb02433.x IS - 2 J2 - Scand. J. Immunol. LA - eng N2 -A critical problem in leprosy is the relative deficiency of antigen-specific T cell-mediated immunity. We were successful in detecting a significant response to viable M. leprae in mononuclear cells isolated from the lymph nodes of lepromatous leprosy patients in contrast to the apparent M. leprae-specific energy seen in the peripheral blood. This observation suggests that antigen-reactive lymphocytes are generated in the lymph nodes of lepromatous patients but the inability to detect them in the circulation may be due either to a different processing and presentation of mycobacterial antigens within the peripheral blood and lymph node compartments or to a selective sequestration of lymphocytes within the lymph node.
PY - 1988 SP - 211 EP - 6 T2 - Scandinavian journal of immunology TI - Presence of Mycobacterium leprae-reactive lymphocytes in lymph nodes of lepromatous leprosy patients. VL - 28 SN - 0300-9475 ER -