title: Leprosy patients: neurotrophic factors and axonal markers in skin lesions.
abstract: 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 p75(NTR), 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 p75(NTR) 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.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Letícia Baccaro
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Michellin
authors.forename: Jaison Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Lúcia Helena Soares Camargo
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Marciano
authors.forename: Flavio Alves
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.forename: Maria Esther Salles
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: Vânia Nieto Brito de
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Maria Renata Sales Nogueira
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D058501:Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007918:Leprosy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000032:analysis*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor