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Lymphocyte transformation in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients
1Department of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, U.K.
Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology
|April 1, 1987
Summary
Cellular immunity in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients showed positive responses to leishmanial antigens. However, factors like antibodies or serum did not significantly impact these cell-mediated immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Parasitology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease affecting the skin.
- Understanding cellular immune responses is crucial for disease management.
- The role of antibodies and serum factors in modulating cellular immunity in leishmaniasis is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess cellular immune responses in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients.
- To investigate the influence of anti-Leishmania antibodies and serum factors on cell-mediated immunity.
Main Methods:
- Lymphocyte blast transformation test (LTT) was used to measure cellular responses.
- Patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis were tested against Leishmania antigens and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA).
- ELISA was used to determine antibody presence; cells were cultured in autologous or AB+ serum.
Main Results:
- All patients exhibited positive cellular responses to leishmanial antigens, though variable.
- Patient responses to PHA were lower than in healthy controls.
- Neither antibody status nor serum type significantly affected cellular responses to leishmanial antigens or PHA.
Conclusions:
- Cellular immunity is present in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients.
- Specific antibodies and non-specific serum factors do not appear to inhibit cell-mediated responses to leishmanial antigens or PHA.
- Autologous serum may provide a slightly superior culture medium compared to AB+ serum.