RESUMEN
The possible relationship between circulating immune complexes (CIC) and peripheral T lymphocyte populations was studied in thirteen active multibacillary leprosy (10 lepromatous--LL--and 3 borderline lepromatous--BL--) and 19 matched controls. Theophylline-resistant T cells (The-R, a lymphocyte subpopulation displaying helper activity on B cells) and total T cells were assessed by means of the E rosette technique, with and without previous theophylline incubation, 1h 37 degrees C, respectively. CIC were quantified by 125I-C1q binding test. Although leprosy patients showed a statistical non significant light depression in total T cells the remarkable variability in circulating levels of The-R T cells enabled us to separate them into two well delineated groups (in relation to this variable p less than 0.001) with no difference in age, sex and bacteriologic state: a) leprosy patients with The-R T cells proportionally conserved (6LL and 2BL); b) leprosy patients with The-R T cells proportionally depressed (4LL and 1BL). Patients belonging to the latter group showed the highest statistically significant levels of CIC. Even though we do not discard an unknown factor being responsible for our findings, we believe that this inverse relationship between elevated CIC and depressed The-R circulating T cells might be representing a lower helper activity on antibody synthesis intending to reduce its excessive production.
Asunto(s)
Complejo Antígeno-Anticuerpo/análisis , Lepra Dimorfa/inmunología , Lepra Lepromatosa/inmunología , Linfocitos T/patología , Antígenos de Diferenciación/análisis , Femenino , Humanos , Lepra Dimorfa/patología , Lepra Lepromatosa/patología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Receptores Fc/análisis , Receptores de IgG , Formación de Roseta , Linfocitos T/efectos de los fármacos , Linfocitos T/inmunología , Teofilina/farmacologíaRESUMEN
A comparison was made of the numbers of epidermal Langerhans cells in active and regressed lesions of tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy using the OKT6 and OKIa monoclonal antibodies. A reduction in the numbers of CD1+ epidermal Langerhans cells was noticed in the regressed lesions of both the tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy lesions unlike the active lesions. The majority of infiltrates in both types of regressed lesions were HLA-DR+ and CD1-.