Abstract
PBMC from tuberculoid (BT/TT) and lepromatous leprosy (BL/LL) leprosy patients showed spontaneous apoptosis when cultured in the absence of mitogen for 24 h, which was inhibited by anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) antibodies. Apoptosis was also inhibited by ionomycin and zinc, which also increased IL-2 and decreased TNF-alpha production. The increase in IL-2 production suggests a mechanism whereby dietary supplements with zinc might alter the cell-mediated immunity response in leprosy patients.
MeSH terms
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Antibodies / pharmacology
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Apoptosis / drug effects*
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Calcium Signaling / drug effects
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Cells, Cultured
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Humans
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Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
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Ionomycin / pharmacology*
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Leprosy / blood*
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Leprosy / immunology
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Leprosy, Lepromatous / immunology
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Leprosy, Lepromatous / pathology
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Leprosy, Tuberculoid / immunology
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Leprosy, Tuberculoid / pathology
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects*
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear / pathology
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Monensin / pharmacology
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
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Zinc / pharmacology*
Substances
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Antibodies
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Interleukin-2
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
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Ionomycin
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Monensin
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Zinc