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Feitosa da Silva Barboza M, de Andrea Hacker M, Maria Sales A, Fontoura Rodrigues D, Pedrosa Marques D, José Ciryllo Silva Noya D, Leal Silveira Andrezo Rosa T, de Fátima Alvim Braga I, Ferreira H, Porto Amadeu T, Gurgel de Oliveira M, de Miranda Machado A, Illarramendi X, Schmitz V. Neutrophilic leukocytosis and erythema nodosum leprosum in leprosy: insights from a retrospective observational study. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1368460. [PMID: 39072336 PMCID: PMC11272563 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1368460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Leprosy reactions represent immunologically mediated episodes of acute inflammation that, if not diagnosed and treated promptly, can cause irreversible impairment of nerve function and permanent disabilities. A frequent type of reaction experienced by patients with lepromatous leprosy (LL) and borderline lepromatous leprosy (BL) is erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL), an inflammatory complication that may become chronic or recur in multiple episodes. Although ENL is commonly described as a neutrophil-mediated immune disease, the role of neutrophils is not fully understood. In this study, we assess neutrophilic leukocytosis in a retrospective cohort of patients affected by BL or LL leprosy. Materials and methods A retrospective observational study was performed using data from 146 patients with BL and LL leprosy diagnosed and treated at the Souza Araújo Outpatient Clinic, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Clinical, demographic, and hematological data were extracted from medical records. Skin biopsy samples obtained from patients for ENL diagnosis were used for histopathological evaluations. Results Most patients were male (75%) and had a reactional episode (85%), of which 65% were ENL. Multiple episodes were common, 55% of the 80 patients with ENL presented more than 2 episodes (average of 2.6 episodes). In treatment-naive BL/LL patients, the median blood neutrophil counts of patients who developed ENL at some points of their disease course were higher than those who did not experience any reaction (median= 4,567 cells/mm3 vs 3,731 cells/mm3 respectively, p=0.0286). A correlation between the increase in median neutrophil counts and ENL severity was confirmed (6,066 cells/mm3 for mild ENL vs 10,243 cells/mm3 for moderate/severe ENL, p=0.0009). A longitudinal assessment was also performed in 34 patients, confirming the neutrophilic leukocytosis (BL/LL: 4896 cells/mm3 vs ENL: 8408 cells/mm3, p<0.0001). Moreover, increased NLR was associated with a greater neutrophilic infiltration in ENL lesions. Conclusion We demonstrate that ENL episodes in patients affected by leprosy are associated with elevated blood leukocyte and neutrophil counts and an increased NLR. These findings highlight the significant involvement of neutrophils in the ENL immunological/inflammatory process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Feitosa da Silva Barboza
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas (INI), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical (PGMT) Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariana de Andrea Hacker
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anna Maria Sales
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Débora Fontoura Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniel Pedrosa Marques
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Helen Ferreira
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thais Porto Amadeu
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Monique Gurgel de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alice de Miranda Machado
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ximena Illarramendi
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro para o Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Veronica Schmitz
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Alfieri A, Dewi ST, Siswati AS, Pudjiati SR, Soebono H. Erythema nodosum leprosum necroticans: a case report of an atypical severe type 2 leprosy reaction and literature review. LE INFEZIONI IN MEDICINA 2024; 32:248-253. [PMID: 38827837 PMCID: PMC11142419 DOI: 10.53854/liim-3202-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Until now, leprosy remains a problem and challenge in the world because it can cause disability and morbidity in affected individuals, including problems due to the emergence of type 2 lepra reaction or erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL). The clinical picture of ENL can appear in an atypical and severe form, called ENL necroticans (ENN), which becomes a problem in diagnosis and therapy. We report a 17-year-old female with lepromatous leprosy and ENN who received therapy in the form of a combination of steroids and methotrexate. Four months after consuming this therapy, the ulcers on the patient's body improved, leaving atrophic and hypertrophic scars. ENN's unusual clinical presentation poses diagnostic difficulties in that its appearance does not follow the typical patterns, making it challenging to identify correctly. Furthermore, managing cases of ENN may necessitate supplementary treatment beyond steroids alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Alfieri
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada/Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Shinta Trilaksmi Dewi
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada/Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Agnes Sri Siswati
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada/Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Satiti Retno Pudjiati
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada/Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Hardyanto Soebono
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada/Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Kimta N, Majdalawieh AF, Nasrallah GK, Puri S, Nepovimova E, Jomova K, Kuča K. Leprosy: Comprehensive insights into pathology, immunology, and cutting-edge treatment strategies, integrating nanoparticles and ethnomedicinal plants. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1361641. [PMID: 38818380 PMCID: PMC11137175 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1361641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium leprae is the causative agent responsible for the chronic disease known as leprosy. This condition is characterized by dermal involvement, often leading to peripheral nerve damage, sensory-motor loss, and related abnormalities. Both innate and acquired immunological responses play a role in the disease, and even in individuals with lepromatous leprosy, there can be a transient increase in T cell immunity during lepromatous reactions. Diagnosing of early-stage leprosy poses significant challenges. In this context, nanoparticles have emerged as a promising avenue for addressing various crucial issues related to leprosy. These include combatting drug resistance, mitigating adverse effects of conventional medications, and enhancing targeted drug delivery. This review serves as a comprehensive compilation, encompassing aspects of pathology, immunology, and adverse effects of multidrug delivery systems in the context of leprosy treatment. Furthermore, the review underscores the significance of ethnomedicinal plants, bioactive secondary metabolites, and nanotherapeutics in the management of leprosy. It emphasizes the potential to bridge the gap between existing literature and ongoing research efforts, with a profound scope for validating traditional claims, developing herbal medicines, and formulating nanoscale drug delivery systems that are safe, effective, and widely accepted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neetika Kimta
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, India
| | - Amin F. Majdalawieh
- Department of Biology, Chemsitry, and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Sunil Puri
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, India
| | - Eugenie Nepovimova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Králové, Czechia
| | - Klaudia Jomova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Kamil Kuča
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Králové, Czechia
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4
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Serrano-Coll H, Wan EL, Restrepo-Rivera L, Cardona-Castro N. Leprosy reactions: Unraveling immunological mechanisms underlying tissue damage in leprosy patients. Pathog Dis 2024; 82:ftae013. [PMID: 38806255 PMCID: PMC11180982 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftae013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous infectious and disabling disease caused by two mycobacteria, Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Acute inflammatory responses, known as leprosy reactions, are significant contributors to disabilities. Three types of leprosy reactions have been identified based on excessive cytokine release (e.g. type 1) or the accumulation of immune complexes in tissues inducing multiorgan damage (e.g. types 2 and 3). The type of leprosy reaction has implications on treatment and management strategies, yet are not well understood by health workers caring for leprosy patients. We attempt to describe the immunologic mechanisms behind the different leprosy reactions and the rationale for tailoring clinical treatment and management to the particular type of leprosy reaction based on the underlying immunologic situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Serrano-Coll
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical-Universidad CES, Medellín 055450, Colombia
| | - Eric L Wan
- Georgetown University School of Medicine, 3900 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington DC 200072, United States
| | - Lina Restrepo-Rivera
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical-Universidad CES, Medellín 055450, Colombia
| | - Nora Cardona-Castro
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical-Universidad CES, Medellín 055450, Colombia
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Shin S, Choi EJ, Moon SW, Lee SB, Chung YJ, Lee SH. Leprosy-specific subsets of macrophages and Schwann cells identified by single-cell RNA-sequencing. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 250:154821. [PMID: 37757621 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
In Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae)-infection, inflammatory cells' subsets and dynamics as well as the interactions with Schwann cells have remained elusive. We investigated individual cells in M. leprae-inoculated nude mice by single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). For macrophages, we dissected two M1-like subsets and five M2-like subsets, where lipid-associated signatures were pervasive in both M1-like and M2-like subsets. There were four macrophage trajectories showing: (i) pro-inflammatory (M1), (ii) lipid metabolism-related (M2), (iii) anti-inflammatory (M2), and (iv) interferon-stimulated gene-related (M2) fates. They displayed early divergence without ever rejoining along the paths, suggesting simultaneous or continuous stimuli for macrophage activation in leprosy. The scRNA-seq predicted Schwann cell-macrophage interactions (Notch1-Jag1, Plxnb1-Sema4d interactions). An immature Schwann cell subset showing Tfap2a expression was identified, indicating Schwann cell dedifferentiation in leprosy tissues. Expressions of Notch1, Jag1, Plxnb1, Sema4d, and Tfap2a were validated in mouse or human leprosy tissues by immunohistochemistry. We identified both pro-inflammatory and inflammation-resolution signatures, where lipid-associated signatures were pervasive to the macrophages, representing leprosy-specific macrophage states for prolonged and repeated episodes of inflammation and resolution. Our study identified refined molecular states and interactions of macrophages and Schwann cells, suggesting novel insights into the pathogenesis of unhealed inflammation with neuropathy and potential therapeutic targets for leprosy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun Shin
- Departments of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea; Integrated Research Center for Genome Polymorphism, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Ji Choi
- Departments of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Won Moon
- Departments of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea; Departments of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Beom Lee
- Institute of Hansen's Disease, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea; Departments of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeun-Jun Chung
- Departments of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea; Integrated Research Center for Genome Polymorphism, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea; Cancer Evolution Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sug Hyung Lee
- Departments of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea; Departments of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea; Cancer Evolution Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
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6
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Bezerra-Santos M, Bomfim LGS, Santos CNO, Cunha MWN, de Moraes EJR, Cazzaniga RA, Tenório MDL, Araujo JMS, Menezes-Silva L, Magalhães LS, Barreto AS, Reed SG, Duthie MS, Lipscomb MW, de Almeida RP, de Moura TR, de Jesus AR. sTREM-1 and TNF-α levels are associated with the clinical outcome of leprosy patients. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1177375. [PMID: 37457576 PMCID: PMC10339318 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1177375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Leprosy reaction (LR) and physical disability (PD) are the most significant clinical complications of leprosy. Herein, we assessed the circulating serum-sTREM-1 and TNF-α levels and their genetic polymorphisms in leprosy. Serum-sTREM-1 and TNF-α levels were measured in leprosy patients (LP) before treatment (n = 51) and from their household contacts (HHCs; n = 25). DNA samples were genotyped using TREM-1 rs2234246 and TNF-α rs1800629-SNP in 210 LPs and 168 endemic controls. The circulating sTREM-1 and TNF-α levels are higher in the multibacillary form. The ROC curve of the serum-sTREM-1 levels was able to differentiate LR from non-LR and PD from non-PD. Similarly, LPs with serum-sTREM-1 levels >210 pg/ml have 3-fold and 6-fold higher chances of presenting with LR and PD, respectively. Genotypes CC+CT of the TREM-1 were associated with leprosy. Taken together, our analyses indicated that sTREM-1 and TNF-α play an important role in the pathogenesis of leprosy and provide promising biomarkers to assist in the diagnosis of leprosy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márcio Bezerra-Santos
- Centro de Ciências Médicas e Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | - Lays G. Santos Bomfim
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | - Camilla N. Oliveira Santos
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | - Maria Wiliane N. Cunha
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | | | - Rodrigo A. Cazzaniga
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | - Martha D. L. Tenório
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Departamento de Dermatologia, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | - Jonnia M. Sherlock Araujo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Departamento de Dermatologia, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | - Lucas Menezes-Silva
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | - Lucas Sousa Magalhães
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | - Aline S. Barreto
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | - Steven G. Reed
- Host Directed Therapeutics (HDT) Bio Corp, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Malcolm S. Duthie
- Host Directed Therapeutics (HDT) Bio Corp, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Michael W. Lipscomb
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Roque Pacheco de Almeida
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia (III), Institutos Nacionais de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCTs), Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Tecnologia (CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Rodrigues de Moura
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | - Amélia Ribeiro de Jesus
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia (III), Institutos Nacionais de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCTs), Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Tecnologia (CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil
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Inyang IE, Bassey IE, Okoroiwu HU. Evaluation of hematological parameters in patients with leprosy in Southern Nigeria. Germs 2022; 12:478-487. [PMID: 38021182 PMCID: PMC10660229 DOI: 10.18683/germs.2022.1354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that mostly result in immunological reactions that affect the skin, peripheral nervous system and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract. This study aimed to evaluate hematological parameters among subjects with leprosy and deduce biomarkers for onset of leprosy reaction. Methods This was a cross-sectional study performed from September 1, 2018 to August 1, 2019. Sixty patients with leprosy (30 on multidrug therapy (MDT) and 30 that had completed MDT) and 30 apparently healthy controls were enrolled. Hematology auto-analyzer (Sysmex KX-21N by Sysmex Corporation Kobe, Japan) was used in sample analysis. ANOVA and Kruskal Wallis were used for mean comparison. Eta squared was used to assess effect size. Sensitivity and specificity were assessed using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Association was checked using bivariate logistics regression. Results The majority (68.3%) of the patients with leprosy were males and a larger proportion were either farmers or unemployed. The prevalence of leprosy reaction in the studied population was 40%. The following parameters were significantly (p<0.05) reduced: red cell count, hemoglobin and hematocrit in patients with leprosy compared to controls. Total white cell count, absolute lymphocyte, neutrophil, monocyte and eosinophil counts were significantly elevated in patients with leprosy compared to controls. The hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume of patients with leprosy on treatment were significantly higher compared to those who had completed treatment, while the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration was significantly reduced. Overall, 65% of patients with leprosy were anemic. Eosinophil count showed good biomarker potential for leprosy reaction onset with AUC 0.709. Sex and absolute eosinophil count were associated with leprosy reaction (OR=11.194; 95%CI: 1.775-70.586). Conclusions This study has shown a high frequency of anemia in patients with leprosy, both those on treatment and those that had completed MDT, necessitating incorporation of post treatment plan in the management of leprosy. This study has reported absolute eosinophil as potential biomarker of leprosy reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inyeneobong Ernest Inyang
- B.MLS, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, PMB 1115, Cross River State, Nigeria
| | - Iya Eze Bassey
- B.MLS, MSc, PhD, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, PMB 1115, Cross River State, Nigeria
| | - Henshaw Uchechi Okoroiwu
- B.MLS, M.Sc, Ph.D, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Arthur Jarvis University, Brigadier Dan Archibong Drive, Ndon Obori Ikot Effanga, Akpabuyo, Cross River State, Nigeria and Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, PMB 1115, Cross River State, Nigeria
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8
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Rosa TLSA, Mendes MA, Linhares NRC, Rodrigues TF, Dias AA, Leal-Calvo T, Gandini M, Ferreira H, Costa FDMR, Sales AM, Amadeu TP, Schmitz V, Pinheiro RO, Rodrigues LS, Moraes MO, Pessolani MCV. The Type I Interferon Pathway Is Upregulated in the Cutaneous Lesions and Blood of Multibacillary Leprosy Patients With Erythema Nodosum Leprosum. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:899998. [PMID: 35733868 PMCID: PMC9208291 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.899998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In leprosy patients, acute inflammatory episodes, known as erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL), are responsible for high morbidity and tissue damage that occur during the course of Mycobacterium leprae infection. In a previous study, we showed evidence implicating DNA-sensing via TLR9 as an important inflammatory pathway in ENL. A likely important consequence of TLR9 pathway activation is the production of type I interferons (IFN-I) by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), also implicated in the pathogenesis of several chronic inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated whether the IFN-I pathway is activated during ENL. Blood samples and skin lesions from multibacillary patients diagnosed with ENL were collected and the expression of genes of the IFN-I pathway and interferon-stimulated genes were compared with samples collected from non-reactional multibacillary (NR) patients. Whole blood RNAseq analysis suggested higher activation of the IFN-I pathway in ENL patients, confirmed by RT-qPCR. Likewise, significantly higher mRNA levels of IFN-I-related genes were detected in ENL skin biopsies when compared to NR patient lesions. During thalidomide administration, the drug of choice for ENL treatment, a decrease in the mRNA and protein levels of some of these genes both in the skin and blood was observed. Indeed, in vitro assays showed that thalidomide was able to block the secretion of IFN-I by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to M. leprae sonicate or CpG-A, a TLR9 ligand. Finally, the decreased frequencies of peripheral pDCs in ENL patients, along with the higher TLR9 expression in ENL pDCs and the enrichment of CD123+ cells in ENL skin lesions, suggest the involvement of these cells as IFN-I producers in this type of reaction. Taken together, our data point to the involvement of the pDC/type I IFN pathway in the pathogenesis of ENL, opening new avenues in identifying biomarkers for early diagnosis and new therapeutic targets for the better management of this reactional episode.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mayara Abud Mendes
- Laboratory of Leprosy, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Natasha Ribeiro Cardoso Linhares
- Laboratory of Cellular Microbiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Medical Science Faculty, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thais Fernanda Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Cellular Microbiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André Alves Dias
- Laboratory of Cellular Microbiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thyago Leal-Calvo
- Laboratory of Leprosy, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariana Gandini
- Laboratory of Cellular Microbiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Helen Ferreira
- Laboratory of Leprosy, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Anna Maria Sales
- Laboratory of Leprosy, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thaís Porto Amadeu
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Medical Science Faculty, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Veronica Schmitz
- Laboratory of Leprosy, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Roberta Olmo Pinheiro
- Laboratory of Leprosy, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana Silva Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Medical Science Faculty, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Milton Ozório Moraes
- Laboratory of Leprosy, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Vidal Pessolani
- Laboratory of Cellular Microbiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Maria Cristina Vidal Pessolani,
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9
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Diagnostic Value of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio, and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in the Diagnosis of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum: A Retrospective Study. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7030039. [PMID: 35324586 PMCID: PMC8951533 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7030039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is an acute immune complex-mediated condition of the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, and other tissues seen in patients with multibacillary (MB) leprosy, causing severe impairment to patients’ quality of life. To date, there is no standard diagnostic criteria for ENL. We aimed to study the diagnostic value and accuracy of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte ratio (LMR), and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in diagnosing ENL. This is an analytic retrospective study with a cross-sectional design that describes the distribution and clinical characteristics of all newly diagnosed MB patients of Dr. Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya in the years 2018–2020. NLR, LMR, and PLR were calculated for all patients, and a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was generated to identify the cut-off points. Among a total of 182 patients with MB leprosy, 22 cases (12.09%) were reported with ENL. WBC, neutrophils, monocytes, and thrombocytes showed a positive correlation with the incidence of ENL, but not lymphocytes. The NLR cut-off point for the diagnosis of ENL was 4.99 (sensitivity 86.4%, specificity 82.5%, accuracy 82.97), while that of PLR was 237.46 (sensitivity 63.6%, specificity 73.1%, accuracy 71.98%). LMR had poor sensitivity and specificity levels of 50% and 28.7%, with cut-off point of 2.28 and accuracy of 31.32%. These results suggest that NLR and PLR could be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of ENL.
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10
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Parker HA, Forrester L, Kaldor CD, Dickerhof N, Hampton MB. Antimicrobial Activity of Neutrophils Against Mycobacteria. Front Immunol 2021; 12:782495. [PMID: 35003097 PMCID: PMC8732375 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.782495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The mycobacterium genus contains a broad range of species, including the human pathogens M. tuberculosis and M. leprae. These bacteria are best known for their residence inside host cells. Neutrophils are frequently observed at sites of mycobacterial infection, but their role in clearance is not well understood. In this review, we discuss how neutrophils attempt to control mycobacterial infections, either through the ingestion of bacteria into intracellular phagosomes, or the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Despite their powerful antimicrobial activity, including the production of reactive oxidants such as hypochlorous acid, neutrophils appear ineffective in killing pathogenic mycobacteria. We explore mycobacterial resistance mechanisms, and how thwarting neutrophil action exacerbates disease pathology. A better understanding of how mycobacteria protect themselves from neutrophils will aid the development of novel strategies that facilitate bacterial clearance and limit host tissue damage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Mark B. Hampton
- Centre for Free Radical Research, Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
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11
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Biswas D, Sethy M, Behera B, Palit A, Mitra S. T-Regulatory Cells in Erythema Nodosum Leprosum: An Immunohistochemical and Image Morphometric Study. Am J Dermatopathol 2021; 43:e149-e157. [PMID: 34291740 DOI: 10.1097/dad.0000000000002024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) occurs as an immune-inflammatory complication of multibacillary leprosy (MBL), precipitated by an interaction between the host, bacilli, and the environment. This complication often causes significant morbidity due to systemic involvement and needs to be treated aggressively. T-regulatory cells (T-regs) are the immunomodulatory subset of T cells that are hypothesized to play a role in ENL. We have performed immunohistochemistry for FoxP3 (T-reg), CD3 (pan-T), CD4 (helper T), and CD8 (cytotoxic T) on 50 biopsy-proven cases of ENL along with 84 biopsy-proven cases of paucibacillary leprosy (PBL) (n = 49) and MBL (n = 35). Image morphometry was applied to objectively assess the relative preponderance of these subsets of T cells. The area fraction of T-regs showed a trend of reduction from PBL to MBL to ENL (P = 0.068), whereas the FoxP3:CD3 (T-reg: pan-T) ratio showed a significant reduction across these groups (P = 0.023). However, there was no significant difference of T-regs or FoxP3:CD3 ratio between MBL and ENL. The T-regs showed a significant positive correlation (P = 0.007) with the cytotoxic T cells in the skin biopsy. The presence of dermal eosinophils in ENL showed a trend association with the FoxP3:CD3 ratio (P = 0.05). Various histopathological parameters including epidermal spongiosis, dermal stromal edema, dermal ill-formed granuloma, and the presence of bacilli within the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle correlated with various T-cell subsets. Our study, one of the largest on this topic, objectively assessed the role of T-regs in the spectrum of leprosy. Nevertheless, the precipitation of ENL from MBL is probably not associated with the T-reg subset alone.
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12
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Luo Y, Kiriya M, Tanigawa K, Kawashima A, Nakamura Y, Ishii N, Suzuki K. Host-Related Laboratory Parameters for Leprosy Reactions. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:694376. [PMID: 34746168 PMCID: PMC8568883 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.694376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Leprosy reactions are acute inflammatory episodes that complicate the course of a Mycobacterium leprae infection and are the major cause of leprosy-associated pathology. Two types of leprosy reactions with relatively distinct pathogenesis and clinical features can occur: type 1 reaction, also known as reversal reaction, and type 2 reaction, also known as erythema nodosum leprosum. These acute nerve-destructive immune exacerbations often cause irreversible disabilities and deformities, especially when diagnosis is delayed. However, there is no diagnostic test to detect or predict leprosy reactions before the onset of clinical symptoms. Identification of biomarkers for leprosy reactions, which impede the development of symptoms or correlate with early-onset, will allow precise diagnosis and timely interventions to greatly improve the patients' quality of life. Here, we review the progress of research aimed at identifying biomarkers for leprosy reactions, including its correlation with not only immunity but also genetics, transcripts, and metabolites, providing an understanding of the immune dysfunction and inflammation that underly the pathogenesis of leprosy reactions. Nevertheless, no biomarkers that can reliably predict the subsequent occurrence of leprosy reactions from non-reactional patients and distinguish type I reaction from type II have yet been found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqian Luo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medical Technology, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mitsuo Kiriya
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medical Technology, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunari Tanigawa
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharma-Science, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Kawashima
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medical Technology, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Nakamura
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharma-Science, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norihisa Ishii
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medical Technology, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan.,National Sanatorium Tamazenshoen, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Suzuki
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medical Technology, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
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13
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Tavares IF, Dos Santos JB, Pacheco FDS, Gandini M, Mariante RM, Rodrigues TF, Sales AM, Moraes MO, Sarno EN, Schmitz V. Mycobacterium leprae Induces Neutrophilic Degranulation and Low-Density Neutrophil Generation During Erythema Nodosum Leprosum. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:711623. [PMID: 34692720 PMCID: PMC8531262 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.711623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL) is a recurrent acute inflammatory complication of leprosy affecting up to 50% of all Borderline Lepromatous and Lepromatous Leprosy (BL/LL) patients. Although ENL is described as an immune reaction mediated by neutrophils, studies demonstrating the direct role of neutrophils in ENL are still rare. One subpopulation of low-density neutrophils (LDNs), present within the fraction of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), has been associated with the pathogenesis and severity of diseases like sepsis, lupus, and tuberculosis. We herein analyzed LDNs and high-density neutrophils (HDNs) in terms of frequency, phenotype, and morphology. Serum levels of MMP-9 (a neutrophilic degranulation marker) were evaluated by ELISA; and LDNs were generated in vitro by stimulating healthy-donor, whole-blood cultures. PBMC layers of ENL patients presented segmented/hypersegmented cells that were morphologically compatible with neutrophils. Immunofluorescence analyses identified LDNs in ENL. Flow cytometry confirmed the elevated frequency of circulating LDNs (CD14−CD15+) in ENL patients compared to healthy donors and nonreactional Borderline Tuberculoid (BT) patients. Moreover, flow cytometry analyses revealed that ENL LDNs had a neutrophilic-activated phenotype. ENL patients under thalidomide treatment presented similar frequency of LDNs as observed before treatment but its activation status was lower. In addition, Mycobacterium leprae induced in vitro generation of LDNs in whole blood in a dose-dependent fashion; and TGF-β, an inhibitor of neutrophilic degranulation, prevented LDNs generation. MMP-9 serum levels of BL/LL patients with or without ENL correlated with LDNs frequency at the same time that ultrastructural observations of ENL LDNs showed suggestive signs of degranulation. Together, our data provide new insights into the knowledge and understanding of the pathogenesis of ENL while enriching the role of neutrophils in leprosy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mariana Gandini
- Laboratory of Cellular Microbiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael M Mariante
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Anna Maria Sales
- Leprosy Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Milton Ozório Moraes
- Leprosy Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Euzenir Nunes Sarno
- Leprosy Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Veronica Schmitz
- Leprosy Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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14
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Nogueira OC, Gandini M, Cabral N, de Figueiredo V, Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, Lima-Junior JDC, Pinheiro RO, Pereira GMB, Pessolani MCV, de Macedo CS. Changes in B Cell Pool of Patients With Multibacillary Leprosy: Diminished Memory B Cell and Enhanced Mature B in Peripheral Blood. Front Immunol 2021; 12:727580. [PMID: 34621273 PMCID: PMC8490736 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.727580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being treatable, leprosy still represents a major public health problem, and many mechanisms that drive leprosy immunopathogenesis still need to be elucidated. B cells play important roles in immune defense, being classified in different subgroups that present distinct roles in the immune response. Here, the profile of B cell subpopulations in peripheral blood of patients with paucibacillary (TT/BT), multibacillary (LL/BL) and erythema nodosum leprosum was analyzed. B cell subpopulations (memory, transition, plasmablasts, and mature B cells) and levels of IgG were analyzed by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. It was observed that Mycobacterium leprae infection can alter the proportions of B cell subpopulations (increase of mature and decrease of memory B cells) in patients affected by leprosy. This modulation is associated with an increase in total IgG and the patient's clinical condition. Circulating B cells may be acting in the modulation of the immune response in patients with various forms of leprosy, which may reflect the patient's ability to respond to M. leprae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto Castro Nogueira
- Cellular Microbiology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariana Gandini
- Cellular Microbiology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Natasha Cabral
- Cellular Microbiology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vilma de Figueiredo
- Cellular Microbiology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Roberta Olmo Pinheiro
- Leprosy Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Cristiana Santos de Macedo
- Cellular Microbiology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Center for Technological Development in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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15
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Sahu S, Sharma K, Sharma M, Narang T, Dogra S, Minz RW, Chhabra S. Neutrophil NETworking in ENL: Potential as a Putative Biomarker: Future Insights. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:697804. [PMID: 34336901 PMCID: PMC8316588 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.697804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL), also known as type 2 reaction (T2R) is an immune complex mediated (type III hypersensitivity) reactional state encountered in patients with borderline lepromatous and lepromatous leprosy (BL and LL) either before, during, or after the institution of anti-leprosy treatment (ALT). The consequences of ENL may be serious, leading to permanent nerve damage and deformities, constituting a major cause of leprosy-related morbidity. The incidence of ENL is increasing with the increasing number of multibacillary cases. Although the diagnosis of ENL is not difficult to make for physicians involved in the care of leprosy patients, its management continues to be a most challenging aspect of the leprosy eradication program: the chronic and recurrent painful skin lesions, neuritis, and organ involvement necessitates prolonged treatment with prednisolone, thalidomide, and anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs, which further adds to the existing morbidity. In addition, the use of immunosuppressants like methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclosporine, or biologics carries a risk of reactivation of persisters (Mycobacterium leprae), apart from their own end-organ toxicities. Most ENL therapeutic guidelines are primarily designed for acute episodes and there is scarcity of literature on management of patients with chronic and recurrent ENL. It is difficult to predict which patients will develop chronic or recurrent ENL and plan the treatment accordingly. We need simple point-of-care or ELISA-based tests from blood or skin biopsy samples, which can help us in identifying patients who are likely to require prolonged treatment and also inform us about the prognosis of reactions so that appropriate therapy may be started and continued for better ENL control in such patients. There is a significant unmet need for research for better understanding the immunopathogenesis of, and biomarkers for, ENL to improve clinical stratification and therapeutics. In this review we will discuss the potential of neutrophils (polymorphonuclear granulocytes) as putative diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers by virtue of their universal abundance in human blood, functional versatility, phenotypic heterogeneity, metabolic plasticity, differential hierarchical cytoplasmic granule mobilization, and their ability to form NETs (neutrophil extracellular traps). We will touch upon the various aspects of neutrophil biology relevant to ENL pathophysiology in a step-wise manner. We also hypothesize about an element of metabolic reprogramming of neutrophils by M. leprae that could be investigated and exploited for biomarker discovery. In the end, a potential role for neutrophil derived exosomes as a novel biomarker for ENL will also be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smrity Sahu
- Department of Immunopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Keshav Sharma
- Department of Immunopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Maryada Sharma
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Tarun Narang
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Sunil Dogra
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Ranjana Walker Minz
- Department of Immunopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Seema Chhabra
- Department of Immunopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
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16
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Passelli K, Billion O, Tacchini-Cottier F. The Impact of Neutrophil Recruitment to the Skin on the Pathology Induced by Leishmania Infection. Front Immunol 2021; 12:649348. [PMID: 33732265 PMCID: PMC7957080 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.649348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania (L.) are obligate intracellular protozoan parasites that cause the leishmaniases, a spectrum of neglected infectious vector-borne diseases with a broad range of clinical manifestations ranging from local cutaneous, to visceral forms of the diseases. The parasites are deposited in the mammalian skin during the blood meal of an infected female phlebotomine sand fly. The skin is a complex organ acting as the first line of physical and immune defense against pathogens. Insults to skin integrity, such as that occurring during insect feeding, induces the local secretion of pro-inflammatory molecules generating the rapid recruitment of neutrophils. At the site of infection, skin keratinocytes play a first role in host defense contributing to the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the infected dermis, of which neutrophils are the first recruited cells. Although neutrophils efficiently kill various pathogens including Leishmania, several Leishmania species have developed mechanisms to survive in these cells. In addition, through their rapid release of cytokines, neutrophils modulate the skin microenvironment at the site of infection, a process shaping the subsequent development of the adaptive immune response. Neutrophils may also be recruited later on in unhealing forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis and to the spleen and liver in visceral forms of the disease. Here, we will review the mechanisms involved in neutrophil recruitment to the skin following Leishmania infection focusing on the role of keratinocytes in this process. We will also discuss the distinct involvement of neutrophils in the outcome of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katiuska Passelli
- Department of Biochemistry, WHO Collaborative Centre for Research and Training in Immunology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Oaklyne Billion
- Department of Biochemistry, WHO Collaborative Centre for Research and Training in Immunology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne Tacchini-Cottier
- Department of Biochemistry, WHO Collaborative Centre for Research and Training in Immunology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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17
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Reanalysis and integration of public microarray datasets reveals novel host genes modulated in leprosy. Mol Genet Genomics 2020; 295:1355-1368. [PMID: 32661593 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-020-01705-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Due to multiple hypothesis testing with often limited sample size, microarrays and other-omics technologies can sometimes produce irreproducible findings. Complementary to better experimental design, reanalysis and integration of gene expression datasets may help overcome reproducibility issues by identifying consistent differentially expressed genes from independent studies. In this work, after a systematic search, nine microarray datasets evaluating host gene expression in leprosy were reanalyzed and the information was integrated to strengthen evidence of differential expression for several genes. Our results are relevant in prioritizing genes and pathways for further investigation, whether in functional studies or in biomarker discovery. Reanalysis of individual datasets revealed several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in accordance with original reports. Then, five integration methods (P value and effect size based) were tested. In the end, random-effects model and ratio association were selected as the main methods to pinpoint DEGs. Overall, classic pathways were found corroborating previous findings and validating this approach. Also, we identified some novel DEG involved especially with skin development processes (AQP3, AKR1C3, CYP27B1, LTB, VDR) and keratinocyte biology (CSTA, DSG1, KRT14, KRT5, PKP1, IVL), both still poorly understood in leprosy context. In addition, here we provide aggregated evidence towards some gene candidates that should be prioritized in further leprosy research, as they are likely important in immunopathogenesis. Altogether, these data are useful in better understanding host responses to the disease and, at the same time, provide a list of potential host biomarkers that could be useful in complementing leprosy diagnosis based on transcriptional levels.
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18
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Bhat RM, Vaidya TP. What is New in the Pathogenesis and Management of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum. Indian Dermatol Online J 2020; 11:482-492. [PMID: 32832433 PMCID: PMC7413435 DOI: 10.4103/idoj.idoj_561_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is a manifestation of type II lepra reaction, seen in lepromatous or borderline lepromatous leprosy. Although it is a common reaction encountered in clinical practice, there are an increasingly large number of newer updates in the pathophysiology and management of this condition. The treatment options have expanded far beyond just thalidomide and steroids and now extends to TNF-α inhibitors, thalidomide analogs, tenidap, cyclosporine A, plasma exchange, and even IVIG amongst others. These updates and the current knowledge of ENL are summarized in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh M Bhat
- Department of Dermatology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Tanvi P Vaidya
- Department of Dermatology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
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19
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Singal A. Current Concepts and Challenges in the Management of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum. Indian Dermatol Online J 2020; 11:479-481. [PMID: 32832432 PMCID: PMC7413424 DOI: 10.4103/idoj.idoj_69_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Archana Singal
- Department of Dermatology and STD, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, New Delhi, India
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20
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da Silva CO, Dias AA, da Costa Nery JA, de Miranda Machado A, Ferreira H, Rodrigues TF, Sousa Santos JP, Nadaes NR, Sarno EN, Saraiva EM, Schmitz V, Pessolani MCV. Neutrophil extracellular traps contribute to the pathogenesis of leprosy type 2 reactions. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007368. [PMID: 31504035 PMCID: PMC6736252 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Up to 50% of patients with the multibacillary form of leprosy are expected to develop acute systemic inflammatory episodes known as type 2 reactions (T2R), thus aggravating their clinical status. Thalidomide rapidly improves T2R symptoms. But, due to its restricted use worldwide, novel alternative therapies are urgently needed. The T2R triggering mechanisms and immune-inflammatory pathways involved in its pathology remain ill defined. In a recent report, we defined the recognition of nucleic acids by TLR9 as a major innate immunity pathway that is activated during T2R. DNA recognition has been described as a major inflammatory pathway in several autoimmune diseases, and neutrophil DNA extracellular traps (NETs) have been shown to be a prime source of endogenous DNA. Considering that neutrophil abundance is a marked characteristic of T2R lesions, the objective of this study was to investigate NETs production in T2R patients based on the hypothesis that the excessive NETs formation would play a major role in T2R pathogenesis. Abundant NETs were found in T2R skin lesions, and increased spontaneous NETs formation was observed in T2R peripheral neutrophils. Both the M. leprae whole-cell sonicate and the CpG-Hlp complex, mimicking a mycobacterial TLR9 ligand, were able to induce NETs production in vitro. Moreover, TLR9 expression was shown to be higher in T2R neutrophils, suggesting that DNA recognition via TLR9 may be one of the pathways triggering this process during T2R. Finally, treatment of T2R patients with thalidomide for 7 consecutive days resulted in a decrease in all of the evaluated in vivo and ex vivo NETosis parameters. Altogether, our findings shed light on the pathogenesis of T2R, which, it is hoped, will contribute to the emergence of novel alternative therapies and the identification of prognostic reactional markers in the near future. Leprosy is caused by a mycobacterium that has a predilection for skin and nerve cells. The chronic course of the disease may be interrupted by acute inflammatory episodes known as reactions, despite effective bacterial killing with antibiotics. Reactions aggravate the patient’s clinical status and may become a medical emergency. Type 2 reactions (T2R) only occur in patients with high bacterial burden and are treated with thalidomide and/or corticosteroids. We are interested in understanding how inflammation is triggered and amplified during T2R. In this study we investigated the potential role of extracellular DNA released by neutrophils (known as NETs) in T2R, since they have been shown to cause inflammation. Abundant NETs were found in T2R skin lesions, and increased spontaneous NETs formation was observed in neutrophils present in the blood of T2R patients. Moreover, bacterial constituents were able to induce NETs production. Finally, treatment of T2R patients with thalidomide resulted in decreased NET formation. Altogether, our findings shed light on the pathogenesis of T2R, which, it is hoped, will contribute to the identification of biomarkers for early diagnosis and emergence of novel alternative therapies in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Oliveira da Silva
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André Alves Dias
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - José Augusto da Costa Nery
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alice de Miranda Machado
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Helen Ferreira
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thais Fernanda Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - João Pedro Sousa Santos
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Natalia Rocha Nadaes
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia das Leishmanioses, Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Euzenir Nunes Sarno
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elvira Maria Saraiva
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia das Leishmanioses, Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Verônica Schmitz
- Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Vidal Pessolani
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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