ABSTRACT
Adherent cells and serum components from Kenyan patients with visceral leishmaniasis were examined with the view to evaluating their contribution to cell-mediated immune suppression. Mitogens (phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A) and antigens (purified protein derivative, streptokinase-streptodornase, and leishmania) were used as stimulants. Compared to the controls, the contribution of serum components to suppression in presence of any of the mitogens and antigens was not significant. The same applied to adherent cells, except in the presence of leishmania antigen where adherent cells contributed significantly (P less than 0.001). Removal of adherent cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients and controls considerably increased in vitro lymphocyte responses to both mitogens and antigens (by about twice), suggesting that in this study, the inhibition of in vitro lymphocyte responses to antigens and mitogens by adherent cells was a general phenomenon independent of the presence of the disease.
Subject(s)
Immune Tolerance , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/immunology , Monocytes/immunology , Humans , Kenya , Lymphocyte ActivationSubject(s)
Carcinoma/immunology , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Concanavalin A/pharmacology , Female , Humans , Immune Tolerance , Immunoglobulins/analysis , Kenya , Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects , Middle Aged , Monocytes/immunology , Phytohemagglutinins/pharmacology , Skin Tests , T-Lymphocytes/classificationABSTRACT
Cell-mediated immune responses were evaluated in 15 patients with active visceral leishmaniasis from Masinga location in eastern Kenya where the disease is endemic. Age and sex matched controls were selected from a village school in the same area. In vivo studies were carried out by skin testing with leishmanin, tuberculin, streptococcal and candida antigens. Lymphocyte blastogenic transformation to the mitogens phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) and the antigens purified protein derivative (PPD), streptokinase-streptodornase (SKSD) and leishmanial antigen (LA) was studied in vitro. The results showed that immunosuppression in visceral leishmaniasis in Kenya was both specific and non-specific. In the majority of patients there was complete anergy to all antigens in vivo and in vitro. The suppression of responses to mitogens was less marked. Recovery of non-specific responses preceded the development of specific immunity. In a small number of patients (23%) immune unresponsiveness to leishmanial antigens persisted 1 year after parasitological cure.