Presence of Mycobacterium leprae‐Reactive Lymphocytes in Lymph Nodes of Lepromatous Leprosy Patients

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Abstract
A critical problem in leprosy is the relative deficiency of antigen‐specific T cell‐mediated immunity. We were successful in detecting a significant response to viable M. leprae in mononuclear cells isolated from the lymph nodes of lepromatous leprosy patients in contrast to the apparent M. leparae‐specific energy seen in the peripheral blood. This observation suggests that antigen‐reactive lymphocytes are generated in the lymph nodes of lepromatous patients but the inability to detect them in the circulation may be due either to a different processing and presentation of mycobacterial antigens within the peripheral blood and lymph node compartments or to a selective sequestration of lymphocytes within the lymph node.