Estimation of serum level of interleukin-17 and interleukin-4 in leprosy, towards more understanding of leprosy immunopathogenesis.
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Date
2013-11
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Abstract
Background: Combating Mycobacterium leprae is known to be via T-helper1
response. However, other T-helper effector cells; T-helper17 and T-helper2; play a role,
particularly in the context of disease type. Aims: We aimed to evaluate serum levels of
interleukin (IL)-17 (T-helper17 cytokine) and IL-4 (T-helper2 cytokine) in untreated patients
with different types of leprosy, compared to controls. Methods: Using enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay, serum IL-17 and IL-4 levels were estimated in 43 leprotic patients and
43 controls. Patients were divided into six groups; tuberculoid, borderline cases, lepromatous,
erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL), type 1 reactional leprosy, and pure neural leprosy. Patients
were also categorized according to bacillary load and the presence or absence of reactions.
Results: Serum IL-17 was signifi cantly lower in cases (4-61.5 pg/mL; median 19), compared
to controls (26-55 pg/mL; median 36) (P < 0.001), and was signifi cantly lower in each type
of leprosy compared to controls, with the lowest level in lepromatous leprosy (4-61.5 pg/mL;
median 12.5). Signifi cantly elevated serum IL-4 was found in patients (1.31-122.4 pg/mL;
median 2.31) compared to controls (1.45-5.72 pg/mL; median 2.02) (P = 0.008), with the
highest level among lepromatous leprosy patients (2-87.2 pg/mL; median 28.9), and the lowest
in type 1 reactional leprosy (1.4-2.5 pg/mL; median 1.87) (P = 0.006). Conclusion: Defective
secretion of IL-17 is related to disease acquisition as well as progression toward lepromatous
pole in leprosy patients. The overproduction of IL-4 in patients with lepromatous leprosy may
infer their liability to develop ENL. Nevertheless, the small number of the studied population
is a limitation.
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Keywords
Interleukin-4, interleukin-17, leprosy
Citation
Abdallah Marwa, Emam Hanaa, Attia Enas, Hussein Jihan, Mohamed Noha. Estimation of serum level of interleukin-17 and interleukin-4 in leprosy, towards more understanding of leprosy immunopathogenesis. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 2013 Nov-Dec; 79(6): 772-776.