Inhibition of apoptosis by ionomycin and zinc in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of leprosy patients. |
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| Authors: | A Gupta V K Sharma H Vohra N K Ganguly |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. |
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| 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. |
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| Keywords: | experimental autoimmune neuritis Linomide myelin antigen cytokine autoimmunity |
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