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Alterations in early biochemical events following T cell activation in leprosy patients

N Sharma1, V K Sharma, A Gupta

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Venerology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.

Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology
|August 26, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Leprosy patients

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Leprosy presents diverse clinical forms, paucibacillary (TT/BT) and multibacillary (BL/LL), with distinct immune responses.
  • Understanding early lymphocyte activation and cytokine profiles is crucial for elucidating disease pathogenesis in leprosy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate early lymphocyte activation events and cytokine profiles (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6) in paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy.
  • To assess the role of Mycobacterium leprae antigen (PGL-1) in modulating immune responses in different leprosy forms.

Main Methods:

  • Lymphocyte stimulation using phorbol myristate acetate/A23187 (PMA/A23187) and Mycobacterium leprae antigen (PGL-1).
  • Measurement of intracellular signaling molecules (IP3, calcium, protein kinase C) and cytokine levels (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6).
  • Comparative analysis between lymphocytes from TT/BT and BL/LL leprosy patients.

Main Results:

  • Lymphocytes from TT/BT patients exhibited greater proliferation to PMA/A23187 and PGL-1 compared to BL/LL.
  • Early activation markers (IP3, calcium, PKC) were elevated in both groups, with a significant increase in TT/BT post-PMA/A23187 stimulation.
  • PGL-1 marginally increased IP3 in TT/BT but had no effect in BL/LL. IL-2 was enhanced in TT/BT, while IL-4 and IL-6 were increased in BL/LL, further augmented by PGL-1.

Conclusions:

  • PGL-1 appears to be a key factor in driving the T-helper 2 (TH2) cytokine response characteristic of lepromatous leprosy (BL/LL).
  • Differential lymphocyte activation and cytokine profiles correlate with the clinical spectrum of leprosy, highlighting distinct immune responses.

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