title: TH17 cells, interleukin-17 and interferon-γ in patients and households contacts of leprosy with multibacillary and paucibacillary forms before and after the start of chemotherapy treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies on the immunology of leprosy are fundamental to the understanding of the various forms of clinical manifestation of the disease. In some diseases, lymphocytes TH17 and one of its key cytokines, interleukin-17 has been shown to be essential in developing an effective immune response. In leprosy, involvement of lymphocyte TH17 and interleukin-17 remains understudied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study is the first investigation to examine the association between TH17 cells, interleukin-17 and interferon- γ in patients and households contacts of leprosy.
  
  
  METHODS
  To document the participation of TH17 cells and interleukin-17 in the immunology of leprosy, to observe the behavior of interferon-γ in relation to interleukin-17 and to verify the differences found between individuals paucibacillary, multibacillary and household contacts, we analyzed samples peripheral blood to identify TH-17 cells, interleukin-17 and IFN-γ; establishing relationships between all the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in the results found in the comparison between the paucibacillary and multibacillary groups of patients (P < 0.001), as well with the household contacts (P < 0.005). The polychemotherapeutic treatment modified the profile of immune response in multibacillary patients compared to what was observed before the start of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The principal finding was that TH17 lymphocytes and interleukin-17 actively participating in the immune response of Hansen's disease as well these cells can stimulate the cellular immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Pernambuco, Brazil.|Dermatology, Leprology and Venereology, Amélia de Pontes Health Care Center - Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brazil.|Herbert de Souza Health Care Center - Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: de Almeida-Neto
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine, UFPE, Pernambuco, Brazil.|Keizo Asami Imunopathology Laboratory (LIKA), UFPE, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Assis Costa
authors.affiliation: Biomedicine, UFPE, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Oliveira-Filho
authors.affiliation: Physiology and Pharmacology, UFPE, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Souza Franco
authors.affiliation: Dermatological Nursing Department, Castelo Branco University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Tavares Julião de Lima
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, CPqAM / Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Barros de Lorena
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine, UFPE, Pernambuco, Brazil.|Keizo Asami Imunopathology Laboratory (LIKA), UFPE, Pernambuco, Brazil.|Departament of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UFPE, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Oliveira de Souza
authors.affiliation: Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Laboratory of Pharmacology of Bioactive Products, UFPE, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: de Sousa Maia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056006:Leprosy, Multibacillary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D056005:Leprosy, Paucibacillary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C508717:IL17A protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D007371:Interferon-gamma