title: Alterations to antigen-specific immune responses before and after multidrug therapy of leprosy.
abstract: This study evaluated the impact of leprosy multidrug therapy (MDT) on cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and antibody responses at diagnosis in untreated paucibacillary (PB) (n=15) and multibacillary (MB) patients (n=15) using a panel of Mycobacterium leprae recombinant antigens (rMLs) (CMI: 46f, ML0276, ML2055, leprosy IDRI diagnostic 1 [LID-1], and ML2629, as negative control; serology: LID-1, 46f, 92f, and 33f, as negative control, and phenolic glycolipid I [PGL-I]) and at 2 time points after MDT (PB: 8-20months; MB: 4-22months). At diagnosis, PB patients produced interferon gamma (IFNγ), and MB patients exhibited low/absent response. Shortly after MDT, IFNγ production in PB patients declined except for LID-1; MB patients produced IFNγ to LID-1. Almost 2years after MDT, IFNγ levels declined in PB and MB patients. Most untreated PB patients were seronegative to PGL-I and rML, remaining so after MDT. Most untreated MB patients were seropositive to all antigens, and IgG to rMLs declined after MDT. Reduction in antigen-specific CMI in PB and in antibody response in MB patients may help monitor MDT effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiania, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Araújo
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiania, Brazil.
authors.forename: Regiane Morillas
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiania, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emerith Mayra
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hungria
authors.affiliation: Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiania, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ludimila Paula Vaz
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiania, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Lúcia Osório Maroccolo
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiania, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maurício Barcelos
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Steven G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Malcolm S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Duthie
authors.affiliation: Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiania, Brazil. Electronic address: mmastefani@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariane Martins Araújo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Stefani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial
keywords: Cellular immunity; Diagnosis; Leprosy; Multidrug therapy; Serology