Genetic control of immunopathology induced by Mycobacterium leprae.
The pathogenesis of leprosy is almost totally attributable to the immune response of the host towards Mycobacterium leprae, a virtually non-toxic intra-cellular parasite. At one end of the leprosy spectrum are tuberculoid leprosy patients, who develop immunity but also delayed-type hypersensitivity towards M. leprae; at the other end are lepromatous leprosy patients, who lack helper T cell activity and therefore do not develop immunity, but who can nevertheless produce antibodies that may cause immunopathology due to immune complexes. A range of immunopathology is seen between these poles.
de Vries
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Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Bank, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015441:Leprosy, Tuberculoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006680:HLA Antigens