Mahadevan P R, Robinson P, Vermani M, Pardhy A, Joshi S
Foundation for Medical Research, Worli, Bombay.
Indian J Lepr. 1991 Jul-Dec;63(3-4):371-87.
Delipidified cell components (DCC) of Mycobacterium leprae obtained as an insoluble material consist of several proteins. This preparation, DCC, has ability to differentially bind to sera from lepromatous leprosy patients and antibodies to this complex get reduced as patients improve under chemotherapy. The antigenic complex has no ability to bind to proteins of sera from normal healthy individuals or tuberculoid leprosy patients. The DCC is antigenic and is recognised by immune deficient cells of lepromatous leprosy patients, leading to lymphocyte proliferation, production of Interleukin II and interferon gamma, and resulting in activation of the phagocytes to initiate killing of endocytosed M.leprae through reactive oxygen intermediates, primarily superoxide. The DCC has also immunomodulatory properties to protect mice against M.leprae infection. Experiments with mice and isolated peripheral blood cells from patients have indicated the probable molecular mechanism of immunomodulation by DCC.
作为不溶性物质获得的麻风分枝杆菌脱脂细胞成分（DCC）由几种蛋白质组成。这种制剂DCC能够与瘤型麻风患者的血清发生差异结合，并且随着患者在化疗下病情改善，针对这种复合物的抗体减少。该抗原复合物不能与正常健康个体或结核样型麻风患者血清中的蛋白质结合。DCC具有抗原性，并被瘤型麻风患者的免疫缺陷细胞识别，导致淋巴细胞增殖、白细胞介素II和干扰素γ的产生，并导致吞噬细胞活化，通过活性氧中间体（主要是超氧化物）启动对吞噬的麻风杆菌的杀伤。DCC还具有免疫调节特性，可保护小鼠免受麻风杆菌感染。对小鼠和从患者分离的外周血细胞进行的实验表明了DCC免疫调节的可能分子机制。
