Abstract
Intradermal administration of recombinant interferon gamma (rIFN-gamma) to lepromatous leprosy patients has converted the local histology toward a tuberculoid pattern. However, such changes have been confined to the site of injection. In contrast, in the present study, marked, intradermal accumulation of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD1a+ T cells and Leu-M5+ mononuclear phagocytes was induced at a distance from the sites of administration, in a dose-dependent manner, by 10 daily intramuscular injections of 10-30 micrograms rIFN-gamma/m2. Mononuclear cell infiltration began within 3 d of onset of rIFN-gamma therapy and persisted at least 8 wk. Intramuscular administration of rIFN-gamma to lepromatous patients receiving concurrent chemotherapy can safely induce widespread histologic features of an upgrading reaction.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Antigens, CD / immunology
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Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
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Bacterial Infections / pathology
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Epidermis / immunology
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Epidermis / microbiology
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Epidermis / pathology*
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Female
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology
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Humans
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Injections, Intramuscular
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Interferon-gamma / administration & dosage
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Interferon-gamma / therapeutic use*
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Interferon-gamma / toxicity
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Leprosy, Lepromatous / drug therapy*
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Leprosy, Lepromatous / physiopathology
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear / pathology*
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Neurons, Afferent / drug effects
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Neurons, Afferent / physiology
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Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
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Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
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Recombinant Proteins / toxicity
Substances
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Antigens, CD
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
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Recombinant Proteins
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Interferon-gamma