Figure 6.

Plasma cells (CD138) are more frequent in lepromatous (L-lep) than in tuberculoid (T-lep) leprosy lesions and co-localize with immunoglobulin M (IgM). (a) Immunoperoxidase staining of sections demonstrates plasma cells in the dermis of lepromatous patients. In contrast, CD138-positive cells were infrequent in the tuberculoid patients. (b) IgM-expressing cells were characterized for cell lineage using two-colour immunofluorescence confocal laser microscopy in leprosy tissue. Double-immunofluorescence labelling with IgM (left, red panel) and CD138 (left, green panel) demonstrate co-localization of IgM with CD138-positive plasma cells (right panel). Original magnification × 630.