INSITU DEMONSTRATION OF LYMPHOCYTE-T SUBSETS IN GRANULOMATOUS INFLAMMATION - LEPROSY, RHINOSCLEROMA AND SARCOIDOSIS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 51  (3) , 430-438
Abstract
T lymphocyte subpopulations in frozen tissue sections of 4 granulomatous conditions (5 patients with tuberculoid leprosy, 5 with lepromatous leprosy, 7 with sarcoidosis and 4 with rhinoscleroma) were studied using monoclonal antibodies and a modified immunoperoxidase technique. Two immunohistological patterns were observed. In tuberculoid leprosy and sarcoidosis, lymphocytes expressing the helper/inducer phenotype were present within the aggregates of mononuclear phagocytes (epithelioid cells); cells with the suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype were predominantly in the lymphocytic mantle surrounding each granuloma. In lepromatous leprosy and rhinoscleroma the helper/inducer T cells and suppressor/cytotoxic T cells were both diffusely distributed among the mononuclear phagocytes (histiocytes) without any discernible mantle. The segregation of the helper/inducer and suppressor/cytotoxic phenotypic subsets was associated with an epithelioid cell differentiation of mononuclear phagocytic cells, bacterial elimination and a delayed type hypersensitivity response. The intimate admixture of helper/inducer and suppressor/cytotoxic subsets was associated with undifferentiated mononuclear phagocytes, bacterial proliferation and the absence of a delayed type hypersensitivity response. The different distributions of T cell subpopulations in granulomas may be associated with differences in the host''s immune response in several forms of granulomatous reactions.