The T cell phenotypes in the lesion of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis

Immunohistological analysis of the lesions of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis showed that the OKT8 positive/cytotoxic T suppressor lymphocyte was the predominant cell in the mononuclear cell infiltrate. These patients were nor immunocompromised, had normal cellular immune functions and had developed specific cellular immunity to the infecting parasite, Leishmania tropica major (L. major). These findings support the contention that in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis inappropriate sensitization of T suppressor lymphocytes occurs, which may, by inhibiting the positive inducer signals of T helper Lymphocytes, account for the chronicity of these lesions.