Haimanot R T, McDougall A C, Mshana R N, Andersen J G, Belehu A
Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 1985 Jun;53(2):238-46.
Using the immunoperoxidase staining method, tissue muramidase (lysozyme) activity was studied in 34 nerve biopsies from leprosy patients and compared to findings in the skin. In a majority of lepromatous and borderline-lepromatous leprosy patients, the enzyme was seen to form a saccular pattern within the cells; whereas a granular pattern was found at the tuberculoid end of the leprosy spectrum, as well as during reversal reactions. Indeed, the most intense enzymatic activity was found in four patients with reversal reactions. Compared to the skin, muramidase activity was found to be more intense and persisted longer in the nerves. Successful antileprosy treatment reduced the enzymatic activity in both the nerves and the skin, but more so in the skin. Schwann cells and axons did not show muramidase activity, indicating that the muramidase-positive cells are not of neuronal origin. Our results suggest that a high percentage of mononuclear cells infiltrating the peripheral nerves in leprosy are derived from blood monocytes. The function of tissue muramidase in leprosy is not yet clear. Its peculiar intracellular distribution pattern in the different forms of leprosy, however, warrants further study to elucidate its role in the pathogenesis of the disease.
采用免疫过氧化物酶染色法，对34例麻风患者的神经活检组织中的组织溶菌酶（溶菌酶）活性进行了研究，并与皮肤中的研究结果进行了比较。在大多数瘤型和界线类偏瘤型麻风患者中，该酶在细胞内呈囊状分布；而在麻风谱系的结核样型以及反应期，可见颗粒状分布。事实上，在4例有反应期的患者中发现酶活性最强。与皮肤相比，神经中的溶菌酶活性更强且持续时间更长。成功的抗麻风治疗可降低神经和皮肤中的酶活性，但皮肤中的降低更为明显。施万细胞和轴突未显示溶菌酶活性，这表明溶菌酶阳性细胞并非神经源性。我们的结果提示，麻风患者外周神经中浸润的单核细胞大部分来源于血液中的单核细胞。组织溶菌酶在麻风病中的作用尚不清楚。然而，其在不同类型麻风病中独特的细胞内分布模式，值得进一步研究以阐明其在疾病发病机制中的作用。
