@article{22281,
  keywords = {Pathology, Nerve damage, Multibacillary leprosy, leprosy, Inflammation, INFIR Cohort study, India, Diagnoses, Cytokines},
  author = {Lockwood DN and Suneetha LM and Sagili KD and Chaduvula MV and Mohammed I and van Brakel WH and al },
  title = {Cytokine and Protein Markers of Leprosy Reactions in Skin and Nerves: Baseline Results for the North Indian INFIR Cohort},
  abstract = {<p>Leprosy affects skin and peripheral nerves. Although we have effective antibiotics to treat the mycobacterial infection, a key part of the disease process is the accompanying inflammation. This can worsen after starting antibacterial treatment with episodes of immune mediated inflammation, so called ‘reactions’. These reactions are associated with worsening of the nerve damage. We recruited a cohort of 303 newly diagnosed leprosy patients in North India with the aim of understanding and defining the pathological processes better. We took skin and nerve biopsies from patients and examined them to define which molecules and mediators of inflammation were present. We found high levels of the cytokines Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha, Transforming Growth Factor beta and inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in biopsies from patients with reactions. We also found high levels of bacteria and inflammation in the nerves. These experiments tell us that we need to determine which other molecules are present and to explore ways of switching off the production of these pro-inflammatory molecules.</p>
},
  year = {2011},
  journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases },
  volume = {5},
  number = {12},
  pages = {e1327},
  month = {12},
  publisher = {Public Library of Science},
  address = {San Francisco},
  url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3236729/?tool=pubmed},
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0001327},
  language = {eng},
}