@article{22508,
  keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Antibiotics, Antitubercular, DNA, Complementary, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Gene Expression, Glucocorticoids, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, leprosy, Male, Methylprednisolone, Middle Aged, Prednisolone, Toll-Like Receptor 2, Toll-Like Receptor 4, Young Adult},
  author = {Walker S L and Roberts C H and Atkinson S E and Khadge S and Macdonald M and Neupane K D and Ranjit C and Sapkota B R and Dhakal S and Hawksworth R A and Mahat K and Ruchal S and Hamal S and Hagge D A and Lockwood DN},
  title = {The effect of systemic corticosteroid therapy on the expression of toll-like receptor 2 and toll-like receptor 4 in the cutaneous lesions of leprosy Type 1 reactions.},
  abstract = {<p><b>BACKGROUND: </b>Leprosy is complicated by immunological reactions which can occur before, during and after successful completion of multidrug therapy. Genetic studies have suggested that polymorphisms in toll-like receptors (TLRs) may affect the susceptibility of an individual with leprosy to developing Type 1 reactions.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVES: </b>To examine the gene and protein expression of TLRs in the cutaneous lesions of leprosy Type 1 reactions at the onset of reaction and during systemic corticosteroid therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>Patients who were being treated for leprosy type 1 reactions with corticosteroids as part of a randomized controlled trial of corticosteroid treatment had skin biopsies performed before, during and at the end of treatment. The gene and protein expression of TLR2 and TLR4 were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>We have demonstrated that the gene hARP-P0 is a suitable control gene for TLR gene expression studies in this population. The gene and protein expression of TLR2 and TLR4 were both reduced significantly during corticosteroid treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>This is the first study to examine the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in vivo in individuals experiencing leprosy Type 1 reactions. The data support the possibility of an important role for TLR2 and TLR4 in the pathogenesis of this important complication of leprosy.</p>},
  year = {2012},
  journal = {The British journal of dermatology},
  volume = {167},
  pages = {29-35},
  month = {2012 Jul},
  publisher = {Blackwell Scientific Publications},
  address = {Oxford},
  issn = {1365-2133},
  doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.10891.x},
  language = {eng},
}