Spontaneous apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of leprosy patients: role of cytokines

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from leprosy patients underwent spontane ous apoptosis upon culture for 24 h. The apoptosis was inhibited by anti-TN F alpha antibodies and to a certain extent by anti-IL-1 alpha and IL-6, thu s showing that T(H)2-type cytokines (mainly TNF alpha) are responsible for inducing apoptosis. This cytokine-mediated apoptosis could be inhibited by ionomycin and zinc, thereby suggesting that these metal ions can be used to decrease the levels of these inflammatory cytokines in various diseases. ( C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.