title: Cell-mediated and humoral immunity in leprosy in children.
abstract: Cell-mediated and humoral immunity were studied in 25 children between 0 and 14 years with leprosy. Cell-mediated immunity was studied in vivo by lepromin and epicutaneous sensitization with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and T-lymphocytes and their subpopulations (T4 and T8) in the peripheral blood. Humoral immunity was evaluated by B-lymphocyte count and immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM and IgA). Along with complement, component C3 was also measured in the serum. Lepromin (Mitsuda) and DNCB responses were significantly poor in mid-borderline (BB) leprosy. The hematological profile, including T-lymphocytes, their subpopulations, B-lymphocytes, serum immunoglobulins, and C3, were found to be normal in all forms of leprosy. The relatively short duration of disease and the low bacterial load may explain these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology & Venereology and Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Sehgal
authors.lastname: Joginder
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Prakash
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007223:Infant; D007918:Leprosy / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3