title: Evaluation of the expression of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in leprosy patients.
abstract: Leprosy is an infectious and contagious spectral disease accompanied by a series of immunological events triggered by the host's response to the etiologic agent, Mycobacterium leprae. Evidence suggests that the induction and maintenance of the immune/inflammatory response in leprosy are linked to multiple cell interactions and soluble factors, mainly through the action of cytokines. The ELISA test was used to measure the levels of IL-1beta and IL-1Ra in 37 new leprosy patients followed-up during treatment and 30 healthy controls. Peripheral blood was collected four times during the treatment of leprosy patients (MDT pretreatment, 2nd dose, 6th dose and post-MDT), and only once from the controls. The comparison of molecular levels in pre-MDT patients and controls showed a statistically significant difference for IL-1beta. The results suggest the participation of this cytokine in the genesis of the immune/inflammatory process.
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. costa.rosane@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Rosane Dias
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Vanessa Amaral
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: Rachel Adriana
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Penido
authors.forename: Ana Maria Duarte Dias
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Marina Dias
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Marina Pires
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.forename: Mauro Martins
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Antônio Lúcio
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Carlos Maurício de Figueiredo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Antunes
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / Q000097:blood*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve
chemical_list: D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D053583:Interleukin-1beta