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In situ characterization of lymphocytic immunophenotypes and interleukin‐2 receptors in cutaneous tuberculosis and leprosy–a comparative evaluation
Author(s) -
SEHGAL V.N.,
GUPTA R.P.,
KARMAKAR S.,
LOGANI K.B.,
JAIN S.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1994.tb01202.x
Subject(s) - leprosy , medicine , tuberculosis , in situ , immunology , receptor , pathology , dermatology , geography , meteorology
Summary The granulomas of lupus vulgaris (LV) were characterized by preponderance of CD4 + lymphocytes and a raised CD4 + /CD8 + ratio. In contrast, in scrofuloderma (SF) the CD 8 T‐lymphocyte subpopulation predominated and the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio was significantly decreased. A higher percentage of lymphocytes expressed interleukin‐2 receptor (IL‐2R) in LV as compared with SF, indicating an activated cellular immune response in the former. Immunophenotypic changes in tuberculosis verrucosa cutis {TBVC) were intermediate between LV and SF. CD4 + lymphocytes were the main infiltrating T‐cell type in borderline tuberculoid leprosy (BT), while CD8 + lymphocytes predominated in the granuloma of lepromatous lepromatous (LL). The CD4 + /CD8 + ratio and percentage of lymphocytes expressing IL‐2R was significantly higher in BT as compared with LL. These immunophenotypic findings suggest that in both cutaneous tuberculosis and leprosy there is a continuous spectrum with regard to cell‐mediated immunity depending on the clinical presentation.