title: A single cell assay for the study of gamma-interferon formation in leprosy patients.
abstract: The number of gamma-interferon producing cells in the peripheral blood of leprosy (LL and BT) patients and controls was studied by the reversed protein A plaque assay before and after exposure in vitro to Mycobacterium leprae bacilli and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The level of spontaneous gamma-interferon production was significantly higher in BT patients compared to LL patients and controls. Mycobacterium leprae induced a specific gamma-interferon response in lymphocytes from BT patients and from healthy contacts whereas in LL patients and non-exposed controls the response was low or non-existing. There were no significant differences in the gamma-interferon response to EBV between the above groups.
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007918:Leprosy / Q000276:immunology*; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007371:Interferon-gamma