Mycobacterium leprae renders Schwann cells and mononuclear phagocytes susceptible or resistant to killer cells.
AUTOR(ES)
Steinhoff, U
RESUMO
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.
ACESSO AO ARTIGO
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=257811Documentos Relacionados
- Evidence for phagosome-lysosome fusion in Mycobacterium leprae-infected murine Schwann cells.
- Ability of mononuclear phagocytes from cattle naturally resistant or susceptible to brucellosis to control in vitro intracellular survival of Brucella abortus.
- Abilities of human oligodendroglial cells and mouse Schwann cells to phagocytose Mycobacterium leprae and other mycobacteria.
- Morphological and functional characterizations of Schwann cells stimulated with Mycobacterium leprae
- A Mycobacterium leprae gene encoding a fibronectin binding protein is used for efficient invasion of epithelial cells and Schwann cells.