Presence of Mycobacterium leprae-reactive lymphocytes in lymph nodes of lepromatous leprosy patients.
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.
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000097:blood*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D014373:Tuberculin
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D014373:Tuberculin