T-lymphocyte clones from leprosy skin lesions

Abstract

Cloned suppressor T-cells derived from lepromatous leprosy skin lesions can be triggered by lepromin to suppress the con A response of normal PBMC. These suppressor T-cell clones can suppress the proliferative response of helper T-cell clones to lepromin. This suppression is probably restricted by class II MHC antigens. Therefore, the unresponsiveness of lepromatous leprosy patients to antigens of M. leprae may be related to the presence of these suppressor T-cells within lesions, perhaps by inhibiting Il-2 production.