Analysis of circulating immune complexes from leprosy patients for Mycobacterium leprae antigens.

Circulating immune complexes (CICs) from 31 leprosy patients (16 tuberculoid, 15 lepromatous) and 12 healthy volunteers, precipitated by 3.5% polyethylene glycol, were individually subjected to SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting using a variety of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against Mycobacterium leprae. A common mycobacterial antigen of an apparent molecular size of 65 kDa was identified in CICs from about 40% of the patients. No correlation was observed between the positivity for this antigen and any of the following parameters: bacterial index, M. leprae-specific antibody titers, motor nerve involvement, duration of disease or treatment. Nevertheless, patients with a relatively recent and massive infection were more frequently positive for antigen than the others.