Cytokine Expression and Cellular Phenotype in Skin Lesions of Borderline Lepromatous Leprosy during Multiple Drug Therapy.
- Author:
Seung Lee SEO
1
;
Hae Young CHOI
;
Ki Bum MYUNG
;
Soon Hee SUNG
;
Sang Nae CHO
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Inje University, Korea. hychoi@mm.ewha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cytokine;
Cellular phenotype;
MDT;
Borderline lepromatous leprosy
- MeSH:
Antibodies;
Drug Therapy*;
Humans;
Immune System;
Interleukin-10;
Interleukin-4;
Leprosy*;
Leprosy, Multibacillary*;
Macrophages;
Phenotype*;
RNA, Messenger;
S100 Proteins;
Skin*;
T-Lymphocytes;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha;
World Health;
World Health Organization
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
2001;39(6):676-687
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Distinct patterns of T cell cytokine production have been shown to influence the outcome of infection. There will be plethora of dynamic changes of T cells and their cytokine production after starting drug therapy in leprosy skin lesions. OBJECTIVE: To determine dynamics of cytokine expression, T cell and macrophage populations in the lesions taken serially in early part of World Health Organization-Multiple Drug Therapy in BL patients. METHODS: Cytokine mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 in BL skin lesion was detected by RT-PCR analysis. To determine cellular phenotypes of infiltrated cells, immunohistochemical staining method was performed using antibodies to CD4, CD8, CD56, CD57, CD 68, gammadelta-TCR , and S-100 protein. RESULTS: TNF-alpha mRNA, initially showed no consistent change, increased 6 months after MDT. IFN-gamma and IL-10 mRNA showed decreasing tendency initially, but failed to show any consistent increase or decrease after 6 months. IL-4 mRNA was not detected in our patients. In reactional states, mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-10 was increased in 2 patients but decreased in 1 patient compared to baseline. Ratio of TNF-alpha positive cells decreased during MDT compared to baseline(p<0.05), but ratio of cells expressing IFN-gamma showed no significant change after MDT. Only CD68 positive cells decreased after MDT(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Variable treatment induced changes in cellular patterns and cytokine expression within BL lesion observed in this study suggest that complex mechanism of immune systems - including cytokine regulation and defect in macrophages - may exist and be involved in the pathogenesis of leprosy.
