@article{29941,
  keywords = {leprosy, Regulatory T cells (Tregs) in leprosy, T helper (Th)17 in leprosy, Leprosy reactions, T cell functions},
  author = {Nath I},
  title = {Immunopathogenesis of Leprosy: A Model for T Cell Anergy },
  abstract = {<p>Leprosy is a model disease for understanding human immune responses underlying diseases caused by intracellular pathogens, as well as providing valuable insights into autoimmune disorders and cancer. This review addresses the unresponsiveness/anergy of host T cells to the causative pathogen Mycobacterium leprae and describes both the adaptive and innate immune responses observed during the clinical course of the disease. Leprosy presents as a clinicopathological spectrum, with divergence in antigen-specific T cell responses and antibodies in patients at the two ends of the spectrum. Tuberculoid leprosy at one end presents with localised hypopigmented paucibacillary skin patches, and shows effective antigenspecific T cell responses and low antibodies. In contrast, lepromatous leprosy at the other end presents with generalised lesions with bacillary proliferation, abundant antibodies, and T cell unresponsiveness/anergy to M. leprae. Recent advances that may explain clinical divergence and T cell unresponsiveness/anergy associated with lepromatous leprosy include: cytokine dysregulation, T helper (Th)1, Th2 paradigm, Th17 cells, FOXP3+ regulatory T cells, and pathogen-induced accessory cell subversion.</p>
},
  year = {2016},
  journal = {European medical journal. Dermatology},
  volume = {4},
  pages = {95-101},
  url = {http://tinyurl.com/kyko9ky},
  language = {eng},
}