Leprosy patients: neurotrophic factors and axonal markers in skin lesions

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria

Flavio Alves Lara¹  Jaison Antonio Barreto²  Vânia Nieto Brito de Souza²  Maria Renata Sales Nogueira Costa²  Maria Esther Salles Nogueira²  Lúcia Helena Soares Camargo Marciano²  Letícia Baccaro Michellin³ 

[1] Fundação Oswaldo Cruz;Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima;Universidade Estadual Paulista;

关键词: peripheral nerves;    leprosy;    nervos periféricos;    hanseníase;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0004-282X2012000400012

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Neurotrophins are growth factors with crucial roles in neural pathophysiology. These mediators functionally modulate nociceptive fibers, and changes in neurotrophins expression have been correlated with early loss of nociception in leprosy. This study investigated the expression of NGF, BDNF, and NT3 in dermal nerves of leprosy patients. Characterization of Remak bundles was achieved by p75NTR, and axonal markers NF-L and PGP 9.5 immunostaining. Clinical parameters of neural impairment have been evaluated by Semmes-Wenstein monofilaments. Our findings demonstrated decrease of NGF in borderline leprosy, when compared to control specimens. Similar results were observed in PGP 9.5 expression (borderline: p<0.001 and lepromatous: p<0.05) and NF-L (lepromatous: p<0.05), suggesting advanced Remak bundles degeneration in multibacillary leprosy. It has also been observed positive correlation between p75NTR and PGP 9.5, indicating association between Schwann cells and axons in Remak bundles. Present data indicate that neurotrophins imbalance may participate in the establishment of peripheral nerve damage.

【 授权许可】

Unknown