著者

福富 康夫

出版者

日本ハンセン病学会

雑誌

日本ハンセン病学会雑誌 (ISSN:13423681)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.73, no.3, pp.253-261, 2004 (Released:2007-11-30)

参考文献数

54

被引用文献数

2 2

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As an obligate intracellular pathogen, the principal host cells for Mycobacterium leprae are mononuclear phagocytes or macrophages. The macrophage is a primitive cell type being found in both early and advanced life forms, and possesses a variety of functions, such as phagocytosis of invaded bacteria, production of cytokines, antigen presentation and tumor killing. Hansen's disease is a chronic infectious disease characterized by specific host immune responses against M. leprae. In this article the macrophage is focused to dissect its functions in the disease.