IL-6 production in response to purified mycobacterial heat-shock proteins and to antigen 85 in leprosy.
IL-6 production was examined in PBMC cultures from healthy leprosy contacts and from leprosy patients stimulated with the purified mycobacterial 18-, 65-, and 70-kDa heat-shock proteins (hsp) and the secreted fibronectin-binding antigen 85 (Ag85). In lepromin-negative contacts, the 70-kDa hsp was the only antigen capable of eliciting significant IL-6 production. In lepromin-positive contacts, Ag85, the 65- and the 70-kDa hsp induced substantial IL-6 titers. IL-6 levels induced with the 70-kDa antigen were about fourfold higher than with the 65-kDa hsp or with Ag85. The 18-kDa antigen did not induce any IL-6 in these healthy contacts. PBMC from tuberculoid leprosy patients produced even more elevated levels of IL-6, and PBMC from lepromatous leprosy patients produced extremely high levels of IL-6. All antigens were capable of inducing IL-6 in leprosy patients. Highest levels were found in cultures stimulated with the 65-kDa hsp, and lowest levels were in cultures stimulated with the 18-kDa hsp.
Launois
P
P
Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Service Immunologie, Sénégal.
Vandenbussche
P
P
M'Bayame
N N
NN
Drowart
A
A
Van Vooren
J P
JP
Sarthou
J L
JL
Millan
J
J
Huygen
K
K
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007916:Lepromin / Q000032:analysis; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000276:immunology*; D015441:Leprosy, Tuberculoid / Q000276:immunology*; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; C065036:antigen 85, Mycobacterium bovis; D007916:Lepromin