title: Intralesional plasma cells and serological responses in human cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: Intralesional plasma cells and serological responses were investigated in 20 Brazilian cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Plasma cell numbers varied from less than 10% to more than 50% of cells in inflammatory infiltrates, in general with greater numbers of such cells present in lesions of longer duration. Direct fluorescence examination with anti-IgG, -IgA and -IgM sera of trypsin-treated sections of formalin-fixed biopsy tissue revealed that most intralesional plasma cells contained IgG. Russell bodies were detected in eight cases, in seven of which these bodies fluoresced only with anti-IgM serum. There was no correlation between serum levels of total IgG, IgA and IgM (detected by radial immunodiffusion) or antileishmanial antibodies (detected by class-specific indirect immunofluorescence and by direct agglutination with and without 2-mercaptoethanol) and numbers of intralesional plasma cells of the same globulin class. No striking or consistent alterations in complement components were noted in the serum of these patients.
mesh_terms: D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007891:Leishmania / Q000276:immunology; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M