Phytohaemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte transformation in leprosy.

Abstract

Blood lymphocytes from Malay, Indian and Chinese patients with leprosy, and from race-matched controls, were cultured in the presence of phytohaemagglutinin. Cells from Malays and Indians with lepromatous leprosy and from Malays with tuberculoid leprosy transformed as well as cells from normal controls when cultured in normal (reference) serum. Cells from lepromatous Malays and Indians transformed significantly less well than cells from normal controls when cultured in autologous serum. Normal lymphocytes transformed significantly less well when cultured in serum from lepromatous or tuberculoid Malays or from lepromatous Indians than when cultured in serum from normal controls.