Mycobacterium leprae has the capacity to invade the peripheral nervous system and cause neuropathy. The molecular mechanisms responsible have remained unknown until recently. Identification of the endoneurial laminin-2 isoform and its receptor alpha-dystroglycan as neural targets of M. leprae has not only opened up a new area of scientific inquiry into the pathogenesis of neurological damage in leprosy, but has also revealed unexpected biological properties of these important host molecules.
BT - Trends in microbiology C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10637640?dopt=Abstract DA - 2000 Jan DO - 10.1016/s0966-842x(99)01647-9 IS - 1 J2 - Trends Microbiol. LA - eng N2 -Mycobacterium leprae has the capacity to invade the peripheral nervous system and cause neuropathy. The molecular mechanisms responsible have remained unknown until recently. Identification of the endoneurial laminin-2 isoform and its receptor alpha-dystroglycan as neural targets of M. leprae has not only opened up a new area of scientific inquiry into the pathogenesis of neurological damage in leprosy, but has also revealed unexpected biological properties of these important host molecules.
PY - 2000 SP - 23 EP - 8 T2 - Trends in microbiology TI - How does Mycobacterium leprae target the peripheral nervous system? VL - 8 SN - 0966-842X ER -