Open AccessEffect of multiple interferon gamma injections on the disposal of Mycobacterium leprae.
Author(s) -
Gilla Kaplan,
N. K. Mathur,
C. K. Job,
Indira Nath,
Zanvil A. Cohn
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.86.20.8073
Subject(s) - mycobacterium leprae , lepromatous leprosy , lymphokine , intradermal injection , interferon , interferon gamma , medicine , biopsy , cd8 , skin biopsy , leprosy , immunology , pathology , cytokine , immune system
The effect of multiple intradermal injections (four to six) of 10 micrograms of interferon gamma on the number of Mycobacterium leprae in the skin of patients with polar lepromatous leprosy and borderline lepromatous leprosy was evaluated. To achieve a maximum zone of induration and cell emigration a preparatory dose of the lymphokine was required. A second group of three injections, given 3-4 days after the initial series, resulted in lesser degrees of induration and was more in keeping with a partial local hyporesponsive state. A marked emigration of T cells and monocytes into the dermis resulted from injections of interferon gamma and persisted for greater than 21 days. A preponderance of CD4+ cells in the infiltrate was seen within a few days and CD4/CD8 ratios remained elevated for greater than 5 weeks. The bacillary load of injected sites evaluated 21 days after lymphokine administration was reduced in 14/17 patients by factors ranging from 5- to 1000-fold. This occurred predominantly within diffuse lesions and occurred rarely in nodular sites. Biopsy samples of injected sites taken 6 months later demonstrated progressive 10-fold reductions in bacilli and the continued presence of a granulomatous response.