01812nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260001500042653001200057653001400069653001500083653001400098653002700112653002500139100001300164700001200177700001200189700002000201245004900221856004600270300000700316520125900323       2018                            d  bIntechOpen10aleprosy10aHLA genes10aMICA genes10aKIR genes10aGenetic predisposition10aGenetic polymorphism1 aAlves HV1 aTiyo BT1 aSell AM1 aVisentainer JEL00aImmunogenetics of MHC and KIR in the Leprosy  uhttps://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/60014.pdf  a293 a<p>Several genetic polymorphisms in immune response genes have been associated to leprosy. This fact converges on the main hypothesis that genetic factors are involved in the disease susceptibility in two distinct steps: leprosy per se and their clinical forms. These genes play an important role in the recognition process, in the activation of the main metabolic pathway of the immune response and in the evolution of the disease. The scope of this project was to highlight the role of the immune response genes in the context of leprosy, emphasizing the participation of some of them in the signaling and targeting processes in response to bacillus infection and on disease evolution, such as HLA, KIR and MIC genes. Some environmental and genetic factors are important when the exposure to the bacillus occurs, leading to cure or not. Factors that favor a cellular or humoral immune response may influence the clinical manifestations after the infection inducting to one of extreme poles. Furthermore, some genetic factors were associated to the type of reaction that some individuals present during the disease development. Thus, it is very important to highlight the participation of some genetic factors in the immunopathogenesis of leprosy.</p>