BACKGROUND: The expression of B7 as a costimulatory molecule on the surface of antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages and on dendritic cells characterizes the efficiency of the cell-mediated immune response.
AIMS: Our purpose was to evaluate B7-1 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) immediately after cell isolation ('spontaneous' B7 expression), and in inflammatory cells from cutaneous lesions of patients with multibacillary leprosy (MB-L) without and during the reactional states of erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) or reversal reaction (RR).
METHODS: Peripheral blood samples and skin biopsies of eight patients without (MB-L) and with reactional episodes (ENL and RR) were studied using antibodies against B7-1, CD1b, DR and CD14 in flow-cytometry and immunohistochemistry experiments.
RESULTS: The flow-cytometry studies (mean +/- SD% of fluorescent cells) revealed significant B7-1 expression on PBMCs isolated from patients with ENL (8.0 +/- 0.6%) and RR (15.0 +/- 1.4%) compared with that observed for patients with MB-L (0.4 +/- 0.2%). Similar results were observed for cutaneous lesions of these patients by immunohistochemical assays. One patient studied before and during ENL revealed weak B7 expression before the reactional episode (0.3% of cells) compared with the marked level of B7-expressing cells detected during ENL (8.5% fluorescent cells). Interestingly, an even higher B7 expression (15% of cells) was observed in patients with RR.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results strongly suggest that B7 expression precedes reactional episodes in MB-L, which could be related to the acquisition of effective immunity to Mycobacterium leprae during reactional episodes in leprosy. We propose B7 expression as a marker of CMI response in reactional episodes in leprosy.
BT - Clinical and experimental dermatology C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17305909?dopt=Abstract DA - 2007 Jan DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2006.02291.x IS - 1 J2 - Clin. Exp. Dermatol. LA - eng N2 -BACKGROUND: The expression of B7 as a costimulatory molecule on the surface of antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages and on dendritic cells characterizes the efficiency of the cell-mediated immune response.
AIMS: Our purpose was to evaluate B7-1 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) immediately after cell isolation ('spontaneous' B7 expression), and in inflammatory cells from cutaneous lesions of patients with multibacillary leprosy (MB-L) without and during the reactional states of erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) or reversal reaction (RR).
METHODS: Peripheral blood samples and skin biopsies of eight patients without (MB-L) and with reactional episodes (ENL and RR) were studied using antibodies against B7-1, CD1b, DR and CD14 in flow-cytometry and immunohistochemistry experiments.
RESULTS: The flow-cytometry studies (mean +/- SD% of fluorescent cells) revealed significant B7-1 expression on PBMCs isolated from patients with ENL (8.0 +/- 0.6%) and RR (15.0 +/- 1.4%) compared with that observed for patients with MB-L (0.4 +/- 0.2%). Similar results were observed for cutaneous lesions of these patients by immunohistochemical assays. One patient studied before and during ENL revealed weak B7 expression before the reactional episode (0.3% of cells) compared with the marked level of B7-expressing cells detected during ENL (8.5% fluorescent cells). Interestingly, an even higher B7 expression (15% of cells) was observed in patients with RR.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results strongly suggest that B7 expression precedes reactional episodes in MB-L, which could be related to the acquisition of effective immunity to Mycobacterium leprae during reactional episodes in leprosy. We propose B7 expression as a marker of CMI response in reactional episodes in leprosy.
PY - 2007 SP - 75 EP - 80 T2 - Clinical and experimental dermatology TI - Expression of B7-1 costimulatory molecules in patients with multibacillary leprosy and reactional states. VL - 32 SN - 0307-6938 ER -