• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.223-226
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• 2002

Background: The type 2 deviated immunological state is predominant in lepromatous leprosy. Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is an immune-complex mediated reaction that typically occurs in lepromatous leprosy. To date, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-2 receptor, IL-10, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-1 receptor antagonist and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were reported to be higher in lepromatous leprosy. TNF-${\alpha}$ is also known to be higher in ENL, which is reduced after thalidomide treatment. However the serum type 2 chemokine levels in lepromatous leprosy patients have not been reported. Methods: The serum levels of the type 2 chemokines such as thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) and eotaxin together with IL-12 and IL-10 in the sera from leprosy patients were detected using an enzyme-linked solvent assay (ELISA) method. Results: The Serum TARC, MDC, eotaxin, IL-10 and IL-12 levels in lepromatous leprosy patients were not significantly different from the normal control levels. The serum levels were not significantly different between the paucibacillary group and multibacillary group. The serum TARC or MDC levels in the ENL patients were more reduced after a treatment containing thalidomide. Conclusion: The type 2 chemokines are not related to the severity of lepromatous leprosy. The larger reducing effect of the TARC or MDC levels in ENL patients by a treatment containing thalidomide suggests the potential role of these chemokines in the development of ENL and the therapeutic mechanism of thalidomide.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.323-328
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• 1987

This study was attempted to investigate the effect of inosiplex on the cell-mediated immunity in the patients with lepromatous leprosy. Fourteen patients received inosiplex (6gm/day) for 1 month. About 20% of the patients (3 of 14) showed conversion of the lepromin reaction and bacteriological index was significantly decreased in 3 of 7 patients. However, inosiplex administration had no effect on the lymphocyte blastogenesis to M. leprae. The clinical evolution showed a favorable activity of the drug on cutaneous lesions in some patients. The tolerance of the drug was excellent. No side effects were observed. These results suggest that inosiplex may have a moderate immunopotential value in lepromatous leprosy.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.251-259
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• 1986

This study was performed to assess the effect of inosiplex(ISP) on the resistance of mice Candida albicans infection, the migration of chicken leukocytes, the production of leukocyte migration inhibitory factor(LIF), and the cell-mediated immunity(CMI) to lepomin in multibacillary lepromatous leprosy patients. The treatment with ISP before or on the time of infection with C. albicans had no or deliterious effect, and treatment with ISP after infection had no effect on the recovery of C. albicans from the kidneys of mice. The migratory ability of chicken leukocytes and the production of LIF from splenocytes of mice were not affected by ISP treatment. However, ISP decreased the migration of chicken leukocytes in vitro, and this decrease was dose-dependent. The therapy of lepromatous leprosy patients with ISP for 10 or 30 days clearly showed the increase of the significant positive rate of Mitsuda skin test to lepromin. The immune recovery as a result of the therapy was found to be the best in the group of patients treated for 30 days. This results suggest that (1) the effect of ISP in renal candidiasis can vary depending on the time of treatment relative to infection, (2) ISP can primarily change the migratory ability of chicken leukocytes but does not affect the production of LIF in mice, and (3) the classical therapy combined with ISP can reinforce or restore the defences of lepromatous leprosy patients against Mycobacterium leprae.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.313-318
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• 1974

An observation on bacteriological conversion upon 56 bocteriological positives out of 131 cases of lepromatous leprosy treated by antileprosy morbile service was carried out. Those 131 lepromatous cases were a part of 335 total registered from three Guns of Gangjin, Hwa sun, and Goheung, Cheollanamdo, since 1957 to 1973 that has been under the control of antileprosy morbile unit. The results obtained are summalized as follows, 1. Lepromatous type was 36.9% of all cases. The ratio of male to female was 4.9 to 1. Age between 30-44, the most productive ages, occupied 38.0% and age over 60 occupied 18.0% of all. 2. 42.7% of lepromatous type was bacteriological positive. 43.1% was for male and 43.1% was for female. Age between 20 to 24 shown the highest positive at 63.7% and followed by aged over 60 (62.5%) and under 19 (60.0%). The lowest one was seen at age between 40 to 44 at 29.2%. 3. Bacteriological positive rate at registration was different in accordance with duration of treatment received befor registration. It came up to the highest 100.0% at the group treated one year before registration. That of the group not received any treatment was 56.4%, and the group received 4-5 years was the lowest at 26.1% 4. Bacteriological conversion rate was 44.6% and 14.3% of all positive casese regressed in bacterial number. 37.5% of all active cases converted bacteriologically within 5 years. 5. Bacteriological conversion rate in group received 1 year treatment before registattion was 66.6%. That in group not received any treatment was 31.8% and group received 4-5 years was 33.3%. 6. Considering of total duration reaseved treatment together with before and after registration, 33.9% of all active cases resulted bacteriological conversion or regression within 5 years.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 1978

Antibodies to Propionibacterium acnes in patients with tumor, leprosy, schizophrenia and normal human were measured by using a microtiter bacterial agglutination test. They were found in all sera examined, including normal human sera. It was comfirmed that a microtiter bacterial agglutination test on P. acnes is found to be an easy and satisfactory method for the measurement of antibody to P. acnes. The agglutinin titers of tumor patients, particularly hepatoma and gastric cancer patients, were significantly lower as compared with those of normal human sera. Antibody titers in leprosy patients were somewhat lower when compared with those in normal human sera. Antibody titers of lepromatous type of leprosy patient were lower than those of tuberculoid type. However, antibody levels were the same in schizophrenia patient and normal human. No correlation between antibody titers and age or sex of the patients and normal human was found.