Macrophage function in patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis: in vitro cytotoxicity and interleukin-1 production.

Monocyte-derived blood macrophages of untreated patients with Leishmania braziliensis or Leishmania mexicana amazonensis infections show anomalies in their nonspecific immune functions. Their ability to kill HeLa cells or to produce interleukin-1 in vitro in response to lipopolysaccharide plus Candida albicans is lower than controls indicating that acquired or innate macrophage deficiencies may be involved in the course of the disease.