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Does Nonspecific T‐Lymphocyte Stimulation of B Lymphocytes Occur During Reversal Reaction in Borderline Leprosy?
Author(s) -
BARNETSON R. StC.,
BARNETSON A.,
PEARSON J. M. H.,
KRONVALL G.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1976.tb00280.x
Subject(s) - leprosy , stimulation , antibody , immunology , lymphocyte , medicine , mixed lymphocyte reaction , immune system , t cell
Serum immunoglobulins G. A. and M were estimated in 14 patients with borderline cases of leprosy at commencement of treatment and subsequently when they developed ‘reversal reaction’. There was a significant increase in all immunoglobulin levels during the reaction, with a subsequent fall; the postreaction values for IgG and IgA were below the base‐line figures. Additional investigations in six patients indicated that the rise was a nonspecific one, not brought about by an increase in antimycobacterial antibodies. It seems likely that the rise in immunoglobulins during reaction is due to nonspecific T‐lymphocyte stimulation of B lymphocytes.