ASSESSMENT OF MYCOBACTERIAL DNA IN CELLS AND TISSUES OF MYCOBACTERIALAND SARCOID LESIONS

In this study we applied a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for t he detection and species-specific identification of mycobacteria to sa mples from patients with sarcoidosis and mycobacterial infections and from control patients. The PCR-technique is based on the amplification of mycobacterial DNA coding for 16S rRNA, which is present in all myc obacterial species, and on the additional sequencing of the PCR fragme nt to determine the species. Mycobacterial DNA could be detected in lu ng tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage cells from cases of tuberculosis and infections with atypical mycobacteria. On the other hand, mycobac terial DNA was amplified only in lung tissue from one patient with sar coidosis. Twenty-three samples from patients with sarcoidosis were neg ative for mycobacterial DNA. From our results we conclude that the gra nulomatous lesions in sarcoidosis may not be due to mycobacterial infe ctions.