title: Th9 cytokines response and its possible implications in the immunopathogenesis of leprosy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Leprosy is an infectious-contagious disease whose clinical evolution depends on the interaction of the infectious agent with the immune response of the host, leading to a clinical spectrum that ranges from lepromatous leprosy (susceptibility, LL) to tuberculoid leprosy (resistance, TT). The immune response profile will depend on the pattern of cytokine production and on the activity of macrophages during infection. Classically, the clinical evolution of leprosy has been associated with Th1/Th2 cytokine profiles, but the role of new cytokine profiles such as T helper 9 (Th9) remains to be elucidated.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the tissue expression profile of these cytokines, a cross-sectional study was conducted using a sample of 30 leprosy skin lesion biopsies obtained from patients with leprosy, 16 TT and 14 lepromatous LL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a significant difference in interleukin (IL)-9, IL-4 transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and IL-10 levels between the two groups. IL-9 was more expressed in TT lesions compared with LL lesions. Higher expression of IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β was observed in LL compared with TT. IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β tended to be negatively correlated with the expression of IL-9, indicating a possible antagonistic activity in tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that Th9 lymphocytes may be involved in the response toMycobacterium leprae, positively or negatively regulating microbicidal activity of the local immune system in the disease.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Center, Federal do Para University, Belem, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge Rodrigues
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.affiliation: Facult of Medicine, Sao Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pagliari
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Center, Federal do Para University, Belem, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dandara Simone Maia
authors.initials: DSM
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.affiliation: Facult of Medicine, Sao Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Fernando Lima
authors.initials: LFL
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: Center of Health and Biological Sciences, State University of Para, Belem, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisca Regina Oliveira
authors.initials: FRO
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Center of Health and Biological Sciences, State University of Para, Belem, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonidas Braga
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Center, Federal do Para University, Belem, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tinara Leila
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: de Souza Aarão
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Center, Federal do Para University, Belem, Brazil.|Center of Health and Biological Sciences, State University of Para, Belem, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juarez Antonio Simões
authors.initials: JAS
authors.lastname: Quaresma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D016906:Interleukin-9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000276:immunology*; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C508607:IL9 protein, human; D016906:Interleukin-9
keywords: IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY; IMMUNOPATHOLOGY; INTERLEUKINS; MYCOBACTERIA