01999nas a2200337   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653001800065653002000083653001700103653001100120653001100131653002500142653001200167653000900179100001700188700001700205700002600222700001300248700001300261700001500274700001300289700001400302700001500316245014900331300001100480490000700491520114900498022001401647       2009                            d  c2009 Aug10aAdult10aAntigens, CD110aDendritic Cells10aFactor XIIIa10aFemale10aHumans10aImmunohistochemistry10aleprosy10aMale1 aQuaresma JAS1 aOliveira MFA1 aRibeiro Guimarães AC1 aBrito EB1 aBrito RB1 aPagliari C1 aBrito AC1 aXavier MB1 aDuarte MIS00aCD1a and factor XIIIa immunohistochemistry in leprosy: a possible role of dendritic cells in the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium leprae infection.  a527-310 v313 a<p>Leprosy is a curable chronic granulomatous infectious disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. This organism has a high affinity for skin and peripheral nerve cells. In the evolution of infections, the immune status of patients determines the disease expression. Dendritic cells are antigen-presenting cells that phagocytose particles and microorganisms. In skin, dendritic cells are represented by epidermal Langerhans cells and dermal dendrocytes, which can be identified by expression of CD1a and factor XIIIa (FXIIIa). In the present study, 29 skin samples from patients with tuberculoid (13 biopsies) and lepromatous (16 biopsies) leprosy were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using antibodies to CD1a and FXIIIa. Quantitative analysis of labeling pattern showed a clear predominance of dendritic cells in tuberculoid leprosy. Difference between the number of positive cells of immunohistochemistry for the CD1a and FXIIIa staining observed in this study indicates a role for dendritic cells in the cutaneous response to leprosy. Dendritic cells may be a determinant of the course and clinical expression of the disease.</p>  a1533-0311