RESUMO
Using a sensitive and modified solid-phase radioimmunoassay for detecting anti-cardiolipin antibodies, sera of 45 patients with lepromatous leprosy were examined. Nine of the 45 (20%) showed positive levels of anti-cardiolipin antibodies. Inhibition tests revealed that these antibodies significantly cross-reacted with double-stranded (ds) DNA, but not with single-stranded (ss) DNA or extractable nuclear antigens (ENA). We describe the unique pattern of antibody cross-reactivity with cardiolipin and dsDNA in sera of patients with lepromatous leprosy.
Assuntos
Autoanticorpos/imunologia , Cardiolipinas/imunologia , Hanseníase/imunologia , Antígenos Nucleares , Reações Cruzadas , DNA/imunologia , DNA de Cadeia Simples/imunologia , Humanos , Nucleoproteínas/imunologiaRESUMO
In the sera of patients with lepromatous leprosy anti-DNP antibodies were detected in order to determine the mode of polyclonal B-cell activation. Anti-DNP antibodies were found in 30% of the patients with active lepromatous leprosy and in 8% of those with inactive lepromatous leprosy. The level of anti-DNP antibodies in active patients was significantly higher than the level in inactive patients and control. However, the presence of anti-DNP antibodies was unrelated to the production of circulating immune complexes and antinuclear antibodies. These results suggest that polyclonal B-cell activation might occur but that the B-cell clones stimulated by M. leprae are different from patient to patient.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Antinucleares/imunologia , Anticorpos/imunologia , Complexo Antígeno-Anticorpo/imunologia , Haptenos/imunologia , Hanseníase/imunologia , Adulto , Idoso , Linfócitos B/imunologia , Dinitrofenóis/imunologia , Humanos , Ativação Linfocitária , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
In 79 patients with leprosy a significant increase of anti-extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) antibodies and circulating immune complexes (CIC) was found. No correlation between CIC and anti-ENA antibodies was demonstrable. Since such a correlation is known from antinuclear antibodies and CIC in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, it appears likely that anti-ENA antibodies do not play a causative role in CIC-mediated pathogenesis of leprosy.