Defect in the generation of cytotoxic T cells in lepromatous leprosy
Stach, J.L.; Strobel, M.; Fumoux, F.; Bach, J.F.
Clinical and Experimental Immunology 48(3): 633-640
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9104 PMID: 6214342 Document Number: 194096
Cytotoxic T cells are consistently produced in normal individuals after in vitro stimulation by a pool of mitomycin-treated normal lymphocytes. Patients suffering from lepromatous leprosy (LL), presenting with large amounts of Mycobacterium leprae and without a history of erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) are unable to generate such cytotoxic T cells, while lepromatous patients with ENL which, in the present study were all deprived of M. leprae, react normally.