This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Steinhoff, U Articles by Kaufmann, S H Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Steinhoff, U Articles by Kaufmann, S H

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Infect Immun. 1991 February; 59(2): 684-688

Mycobacterium leprae renders Schwann cells and mononuclear phagocytes susceptible or resistant to killer cells.

Department of Immunology, University of Ulm, Germany.

ABSTRACT

Acquired resistance to Mycobacterium leprae, the etiologic agent of leprosy, crucially depends on cellular immune mechanisms. In addition to interleukin-mediated helper functions, killer mechanisms seem to be involved. This study addresses the question of how M. leprae render mononuclear phagocytes and Schwann cells, its natural targets, susceptible or resistant to killer cells. Killer activities were stimulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy individuals by incubation with mycobacteria plus interleukin-2. These cells lysed Schwann cells and mononuclear phagocytes which had been pulsed with dead M. leprae, while unpulsed targets remained virtually unaffected. Importantly, targets infected with viable M. leprae were not lysed; furthermore, infection with viable M. leprae as well as gamma interferon stimulation or heat shock caused resistance in otherwise susceptible targets which had been pulsed with dead M. leprae. Thus, M. leprae markedly influenced the effect of killer cells on Schwann cells and mononuclear phagocytes.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Scollard, D. M., Adams, L. B., Gillis, T. P., Krahenbuhl, J. L., Truman, R. W., Williams, D. L. (2006). The Continuing Challenges of Leprosy. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 19: 338-381 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Zugel, U., Kaufmann, S. H. E. (1999). Role of Heat Shock Proteins in Protection from and Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 12: 19-39 [Abstract] [Full Text]