01803nas a2200289   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001100055653002100066653001100087653001500098653002500113653002500138653001600163653002200179653004100201100002000242700001500262700001400277700002100291700002300312245008800335300001000423490000800433520105800441022001401499       2003                            d  c2003 Apr10aBiopsy10aCyclooxygenase 210aHumans10aIsoenzymes10aLeprosy, lepromatous10aLeprosy, Tuberculoid10aMacrophages10aMembrane Proteins10aProstaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases1 aKiszewski A E C1 aBecerril E1 aBaquera J1 aRuiz-Maldonado R1 aHernández Pando R00aExpression of cyclooxygenase type 2 in lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy lesions.  a795-80 v1483 a<p><b>BACKGROUND: </b>Leprosy is an infectious disease with two polar forms, tuberculoid leprosy (TL) and lepromatous leprosy (LL), which are dominated by T-helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cells, respectively. High concentrations of prostaglandin E2 produced by the inducible enzyme cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX-2) in LL could inhibit Th1 cytokine production, contributing to T-cell anergy.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVES: </b>To compare the COX-2 expression in LL and TL.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>Skin biopsies from 40 leprosy patients (LL, n = 20; TL, n = 20) were used to determine by immunohistochemistry and automated morphometry the percentage of COX-2 immunostained cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Most COX-2-positive cells were macrophages; their percentages in the inflammatory infiltrate located in the papillary dermis, reticular dermis and periadnexally were significantly higher in LL than TL (P < 0.001 by Student's t-test).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>The high expression of COX-2 in LL may be related to high prostaglandin production contributing to T-cell anergy.</p>  a0007-0963