Specific lysis by CD8+ T cells of Schwann cells expressing Mycobacterium leprae antigens.

In vitro cultured murine Schwann cells which were devoid of class I and class II gene products of the major histocompatibility complex expressed class I, though not class II, antigens after stimulation with recombinant interferon-gamma. Recombinant IFN-gamma-stimulated Schwann cells after priming with M. leprae were lysed by antigen-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes in vitro. These findings suggest that specific lysis of M. leprae-infected Schwann cells by CD8+ CTL plays a role in leprosy.