Superoxide production from macrophages of leprosy patients after stimulation with Mycobacterium leprae.
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Date
1987-09
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Abstract
The macrophages from peripheral blood of normal healthy individuals respond
to live or killed Mycobacterium leprae by producing superoxide. On the other hand, the
macrophages from bacteriologically positive (B + LL) or long term treated bacteriologically
negative (B – LL) and tuberculoid leprosy patients are unable to produce superoxide when
stimulated with live Mycobacterium leprae. While killed Mycobacterium leprae induce
superoxide with the cells from tuberculoid and B(–)LL patients, cells from B(+)LL
patients fail to respond. The deficiency in B(–)LL patients to produce superoxide appears
to be specific with Mycobacterium leprae and the defect can be counteracted by the addition
of colchicine. These observations indicate a preexisting membrane disposition which does
not favour superoxide production. A similar situation is seen in the cells from tuberculoid
leprosy patients. Thus it appears that both cured and active lepromatous leprosy patients
have defective macrophages, unable to respond to live Mycobacterium leprae to produce
superoxide anion, in contrast to the situation with the cells from normal healthy individuals.
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Keywords
Superoxide, macrophages, leprosy patients
Citation
Marolia Jolly, Mahadevan P R. Superoxide production from macrophages of leprosy patients after stimulation with Mycobacterium leprae. Journal of Biosciences. 1987 Sept; 12(3): 273-279.