INTRA-LESIONAL PLASMA-CELLS AND SEROLOGICAL RESPONSES IN HUMAN CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (1) , 59-64
Abstract
Intralesional plasma cells and serological responses were investigated in 20 Brazilian cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Plasma cell numbers varied from < 10% to > 50% of cells in inflammatory infiltrates, generally with greater numbers of such cells present in lesions of longer duration. Direct fluorescence examination with anti-IgG, -IgA and -IgM sera of trypsin-treated sections of formalin-fixed biopsy tissue revealed that most intralesional plasma cells contained IgG. Russell bodies were detected in 8 cases, in 7 of which fluoresced only with anti-IgM serum. There was no correlation between serum levels of total IgG, IgA and IgM (detected by radial immunodiffusion) or antileishmanial antibodies (detected by class-specific indirect immunofluorescence and by direct agglutination with and without 2-mercaptoethanol) and numbers of intralesional plasma cells of the same globulin class. No striking or consistent alterations in complement components were noted in the serum of these patients.