Table 4.
In Situ Reactivity of MAbs to Different Mycobacterial Epitopes (LAM, PGL-I, 36 kd, and 65 kd) as Analyzed by Immunohistochemistry: Semiquantitative Analysis in the Lesional Skin of Untreated Leprosy Patients and Control Skin Biopsies
| Patient classification | BI | n | Positive staining by MAb (antigen)/number of biopsies tested and intensity of staining and characteristics | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F30-5 (LAM) | DZ-1 (PGL-I) | F126-5 (36 kd) | F67-2 (65 kd) | |||
| Leprosy patients | ||||||
| Paucibacillary (PB) | ||||||
| TT | 0 | 6 | 0 /6 | 0 /6 | 3 /6 | 3 /6 |
| +† | +‡ | |||||
| BT | 0–1+ | 16 | 0 /16 | 3 /16 | 13 /16 | 5 /16 |
| +¶ | +*† | +‡ | ||||
| Multibacillary (MB) | ||||||
| BB/BL | 4–5+ | 9 | 9/9, 3/9 | 9/9, 9/9 | 9/9, 3/9 | 9/9, 3/9, 1/9 |
| +++,§ +¶ | +++,§ ++¶ | ++,*†§ +¶ | ++,§+,¶ RT-PCR‡ | |||
| LL | 5–6+ | 2 | 2 /2 | 2 /2 | 2 /2 | 2 /2 |
| +++§ | +++§∥ | +++†§ | +++§ | |||
| Other skin tissue | ||||||
| Sarcoidosis | 6 | 0 /6 | 0 /6 | 6 /6 | 1 /6 | |
| +++*† | +† | |||||
| Psoriasis | 3 | 0 /3 | 0 /3 | 2 /3 | 1 /3 | |
| +** | +‡ | |||||
| Contact allergy | 4 | 0 /4 | 0 /4 | 0 /4 | 4 /4 | |
| +‡ | ||||||
| Leishmaniasis | 5 | 3 /5 | 0 | 5 /5 | 2 /5 | |
| +†† | +++*† | +†† | ||||
| Normal skin | 3 | 0 /3 | 0 /3 | 0 /3 | 0 /3 |
The in situ presence of Ml.-specific or cross-reacting mycobacterial antigens was determined by immunohistochemical analysis using MAbs. The staining patterns were evaluated on the basis of intensity (grading: + to +++) and also on the basis of the specific staining characteristic and distribution in the tissue.
*Staining is associated with the cell membrane of immunocompetent cells at the site of juxtapositionally opposed T cells and macrophages.
†Diffusely stained interstitial space of the cellular infiltrate, and occasional intracytoplasmic diffused staining.
‡Membrane-bound staining of cells as a necklace around and associated with the basal layer of the epidermis.
§Granular staining of discrete, whole, or fragmented bacilli.
¶Intracellular staining within scattered cells.
∥Staining as dots within the infiltrate.
**Membrane-bound staining of scattered cells.
††Few sporadic individual cells stained intracytoplasmatic and membrane bound within the infiltrate.