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Defective blood mononuclear phagocyte function in patients with leprosy
1Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Investigaciones Hematológicas, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Summary
Leprosy patients exhibit impaired monocyte function, specifically reduced ability to kill Candida pseudotropicalis. This defect is more pronounced in lepromatous leprosy, indicating altered enzymatic candidacidal activity in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, affects lymphocyte function, with varying severity in lepromatous and tuberculoid forms.
- Macrophage's role in digesting Mycobacterium leprae is debated, prompting investigation into monocyte enzyme systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alterations in myeloperoxidase-dependent and -independent enzyme systems of monocytes from leprosy patients.
- To assess the phagocytic and candidacidal activities of monocytes against Candida pseudotropicalis in different leprosy forms.
Main Methods:
- Adherent blood monocytes were isolated from patients with tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy and healthy controls.
- Monocytes' ability to ingest and kill Candida pseudotropicalis was evaluated after 30 and 60 minutes of incubation.
Main Results:
- Mononuclear phagocytic cells from leprosy patients showed normal phagocytosis of Candida pseudotropicalis.
- Significantly altered fungicidal activity against Candida pseudotropicalis was observed, more prominent in lepromatous leprosy patients compared to tuberculoid leprosy patients.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral blood monocytes in leprosy patients exhibit impaired enzymatic candidacidal activity.
- The study highlights a specific functional deficit in monocytes related to fungal killing, particularly in lepromatous leprosy.