The expression of NGFr and PGP 9.5 in leprosy reactional cutaneous lesions: an assessment of the nerve fiber status using immunostaining

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria

Sérgio Luiz Gomes Antunes²  Yong Liang¹  José Augusto Da Costa Neri²  Mary Haak-frendscho¹  Olle Johansson¹ 

[1] ,Oswaldo Cruz Institute Laboratory of Leprosy Rio de Janeiro RJ ,Brazil

关键词: nerve growth factor receptor;    protein gene product 9.5;    leprosy;    neurotrophic factor;    receptor do fator de crescimento neuronal;    produto protéico do gen 9.5;    lepra;    fator neurotrópico;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0004-282X2003000300005

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

The effects of reactional episodes on the cutaneous nerve fibers of leprosy patients was assessed in six patients (three with reversal reactions and three with erythema nodosum leprosum). Cryosections of cutaneous biopsy of reactional lesions taken during the episode and of another sample during the remission period were immunostained with anti-NGFr and anti-PGP 9.5 (indirect immunofluorescence). We found no significant statistical difference in the number of NGFr- and PGP 9.5-positive fibers between the reactional and post-reactional groups. A significant difference was detected between the number of NGFr and PGP 9.5-stained fibers inside of the reactional group of biopsy cryosections but this difference was ascribed to the distinct aspects of the nerve fibers displayed whether stained with anti-NGFr or with anti-PGP 9.5; NGFr-positive branches looked larger and so interpreted as containing more fibers. In addition, a substantial number NGFr-positive fibers were PGP 9.5-negative. No differences in the number of stained fibers among the distinct cutaneous regions examined (epidermis + upper dermis, mid and deep dermis) was detected. In conclusion, the number of PGP- and NGFr-positive fibers were not significantly different in the reactional and post-reactional biopsies in the present study. NGFr-staining of the nerve fibers is different from their PGP-imunoreactivity and the evaluation of the nerve fiber status on an innervated target organ should be carried out choosing markers for both components of nerve fibers (Schwann cells and axons).

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