Immunohistochemical identification of ferritin, lactoferrin and transferrin in leprosy lesions of human skin biopsies.

Granulomatous lesions of human leprosy contained ferritin and lactoferrin but little or no transferrin, as demonstrated by the avidin-biotin complex immunoperoxidase method. Lactoferrin was found in the neutrophils. These results suggested that the cells of the host mononuclear phagocyte system in leprosy granulomas provide an adequate nutritional environment for iron acquisition by M. leprae. A possible role of iron binding proteins in the granulomas is discussed in relation to previous data on bovine paratuberculous granulomas.