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IgG Antibodies in Leprosy and Their Relation to Thl/Th2 Responses

1998; Volume: 23; Issue: Especial Linguagem: Inglês

10.47878/hi.1998.v23.35944

1982-5161

Marian Ulrich, Vestalia Rodríguez, Marta Centeno and Jacinto Convit,

Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research

The study of the IgG subclasses of antibodies across the clinical spectrum of leprosy id not reveal differences that could be related to the Th1/Th2 dichotomy; the predominance of antibodies of the IgG1, 2 and 3 subclasses suggest a possible Th1 response across the spectrum in Venezuelan patients. In contrast, the anergic form of American cutaneous leishmaniasis was characterized by a strong IgG4 specific antibody response, suggesting a Th2 response, while localized forms of the disease appeared to be associated with responses of the Th1 type. Persisting antibodies to phenolic glyco- lipid-I in a small percentage of clinically inactive multibacillary patients may reflect differences in the catabolism of this unusual antigen, since persistence was not associated with a unique initial IgG subclass response to a complex extract of Mycobacterium leprae antigens.