[Effects of endogenous cortisol on the function of nonspecific T-suppressors and quantitative characteristics of main subpopulations of circulating T-lymphocytes in leprosy].

Serum hydrocortisone levels, cellular immunity and their correlation were studied in 38 patients with lepromatous lepra in regression. 12 of them had exacerbation of specific polyneuritis. The latter condition is accompanied by a rise in hydrocortisone concentrations.

[Immunomodulating role of endogenous thyroid hormones in mycobacterioses].

Radionuclide tracing in peripheral blood of patients with mycobacterial infections varying in activity (lepromatous lepra, n = 98; pulmonary tuberculosis, n = 51) provided information on lymphocyte proliferative response to PHA, tuberculin, sensitin from lepra mycobacteria, on thyroid hormones concentrations. Endogenic thyroid hormones are shown to have immunomodulating properties closely related to the disease activity.

Autosensitization to connective tissue elements and endogenous adaptation hormones in mycobacterioses.

The contribution of some adaptation hormones to the process regulating production of autoantibodies to collagen (Abc) and elastin (Abe) was studied in leprosy (37 patients) and tuberculosis (31 patients). In both mycobacterioses the Abc and Abe titers were increased and inversely correlated with endogenous cortisol levels. In leprosy the antibody titers directly correlated with the triiodothyronine (T3) levels which were significantly higher than the values in healthy controls.