Role of HLA, KIR, MICA, and cytokines genes in leprosy.
Many genes including HLA, KIR, and MICA genes, as well as polymorphisms in cytokines have been investigated for their role in infectious disease. HLA alleles may influence not only susceptibility or resistance to leprosy, but also the course of the disease. Some combinations of HLA and KIR may result in negative as well as positive interactions between NK cells and infected host cells with M. leprae, resulting in activation or inhibition of NK cells and, consequently, in death of bacillus. In addition, studies have demonstrated the influence of MICA genes in the pathogenesis of leprosy. Specifically, they may play a role in the interaction between NK cells and infected cells. Finally, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines have been influencing the clinical course of leprosy. Data from a wide variety of sources support the existence of genetic factors influencing the leprosy pathogenesis. These sources include twin studies, segregation analyses, family-based linkage and association studies, candidate gene association studies, and, most recently, genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The purpose of this brief review was to highlight the importance of some immune response genes and their correlation with the clinical forms of leprosy, as well as their implications for disease resistance and susceptibility.
Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Maringa State University, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
Luciana Ribeiro
LR
Jarduli
Ana Maria
AM
Sell
Pâmela Guimarães
PG
Reis
Emília Ângela
EÂ
Sippert
Christiane Maria
CM
Ayo
Priscila Saamara
PS
Mazini
Hugo Vicentin
HV
Alves
Jorge Juarez Vieira
JJ
Teixeira
Jeane Eliete Laguila
JE
Visentainer
D000483:Alleles; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism; D007918:Leprosy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D054340:Receptors, KIR / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C099187:MHC class I-related chain A; D054340:Receptors, KIR