Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients suffering from lepromatous leprosy do not normally react in vitro to stimulation by Mycobacterium leprae antigens. In contrast, we found that T cells from non-responding patients in combination with macrophages from responding patients or healthy contacts did respond well to M. leprae. Conversely, T cells from responding patients or healthy contacts in combinations with macrophages from non-responding patients failed to respond. It seems, therefore, that the lack of response normally observed in in vitro tests using cells from lepromatous leprosy patients is due to a failure of their macrophages to present M. leprae antigens in an immunogenic form.
BT - Clinical and experimental immunology C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/373933?dopt=Abstract DA - 1978 Oct IS - 1 J2 - Clin. Exp. Immunol. LA - eng N2 -Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients suffering from lepromatous leprosy do not normally react in vitro to stimulation by Mycobacterium leprae antigens. In contrast, we found that T cells from non-responding patients in combination with macrophages from responding patients or healthy contacts did respond well to M. leprae. Conversely, T cells from responding patients or healthy contacts in combinations with macrophages from non-responding patients failed to respond. It seems, therefore, that the lack of response normally observed in in vitro tests using cells from lepromatous leprosy patients is due to a failure of their macrophages to present M. leprae antigens in an immunogenic form.
PY - 1978 SP - 46 EP - 51 T2 - Clinical and experimental immunology TI - The role of macrophages in the lymphoproliferative response to Mycobacterium leprae in vitro. VL - 34 SN - 0009-9104 ER -