Expression of Smad 2 and 3 on the Lesions of Leprosy.
- Author:
Hyeon Sook LEE
1
;
Jong Rok LEE
;
Gwang Seong CHOI
;
Jeong Hyun SHIN
;
Hae Young CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Korea. jshin@inha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Leprosy;
Smad;
Transforming growth factor beta
- MeSH:
Biopsy;
Communicable Diseases;
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay;
Fibroblasts;
Humans;
Immunity, Cellular;
Immunohistochemistry;
Inflammation;
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins;
Keratinocytes;
Leprosy*;
Leprosy, Lepromatous;
Leprosy, Tuberculoid;
Physiological Processes;
Protein Isoforms;
Receptors, Cell Surface;
Skin;
Transcription Factors;
Transforming Growth Factor beta
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
2006;44(3):304-308
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Leprosy is an infectious disease with two polar forms, tuberculoid leprosy (TT) and lepromatous leprosy (LL), that are characterized by strong cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and CMI anergy, respectively. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a family of growth factors involved in essential physiological processes, including development, differentiation, tissue repair, cell growth control and inflammation. Cellular signaling by TGF-beta family members is initiated by the assembly of specific cell surface receptors that activate transcription factors of the Smad family. Deregulation of the TGF-beta-Smad signaling pathway has been implicated in developmental disorders and several human diseases. Recently, ELISA & immunohistochemistry revealed high expression of TGF-beta isoforms in LL. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate TGF-beta-Smad signaling in various forms of leprosy. METHODS: We investigated the involvement of TGF-beta by immunohistochemical staining for Smad 2 and 3 in skin biopsies from six patients of BL and four patients of TT. RESULTS: The inflammatory cells, keratinocytes and fibroblasts in BL showed strong positivity for both Smad 2 and 3, whereas those in TT showed little positivity. CONCLUSION: The high expression of Smad 2/3 in BL could represent high expression of TGF-beta, which possibly contributes to local CMI anergy and other clinical characteristic features of leprosy.
