Comparison of cellular responses in single- and multiple-lesion neurocysticercosis.
Leucocytes from 14 cases of neurocysticercosis who had multiple lesions showed a significantly lower level of chemotaxis than those from healthy controls [with mean (S.D.) movements of 49.86 (15.0) and 89.1 (12.9) microns, respectively; P < 0.05). In contrast, the leucocytes from 14 cases with single lesions had similar chemotactic responses to the controls. Although the level of lymphoproliferation stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin, a measure of T-lymphocyte function, was also considerably less using cells from the multiple-lesion cases than when cells from the single-lesion cases were used, the difference was not statistically significant [0.644 (0.248) of control values v. 0.463 (0.317); P < 0.1]. Flow cytometry indicated that the total numbers of CD4 cells and CD4/CD8 ratios in all blood samples were normal. It therefore appears that, among neurocysticercosis patients, only those with multiple lesions have defective neutrophils and may also have dysfunctional lymphocytes.
Thussu
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Departments of Neurology and Immunopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. sudeshp@ch1.vsnl.net.in
Sehgal
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S
Sharma
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M
Lal
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V
Sawhney
I M
IM
Prabhakar
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed