In Situ Characterization of the Cutaneous Immune Response in Ethiopian Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

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Abstract
Cryoslat sections from 10 patients with localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) and eight patients wiih diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) from Ethiopia were studied wtih immuno‐fluorescence methods for the phenotypic characterization of cells in the lesions. Higher numbers of Leuu 2+ and Leu 3+ cells (PP+) cells were found in DCL than LCL lesions, suggesting interference in the activation of the T cells, IL‐2‐containing cells were absent in DCL and were found in LCL lesions. Epidermal keratinocytes above the LCL but not the DCL lesions expressed HLA‐DR (but not HLA‐DQ) antigen, suggesting a lower γ‐interferon production in the DCL granulomas. The number of Lancerhans' cells (Leu 6+) was higher in the epidermis of DCL (P+ cells were seen in the dermal lesions (P<0.001). These observations could account for some of the mechanisms responsible for the disturbed immunostimulation and immunoregulation obsereved in the lesions of DCL.