Selective infection of peripheral nerves is a unique property of Mycobacterium leprae that results in serious injury, but its basis is unexplained. Recent evidence from infected armadillos suggests that endothelial cells of peripheral nerve vasculature may be the gatekeepers by which M. leprae infects nerves. The pathogenesis of neuropathy in leprosy may thus entail a dynamic sequence of adhesion, immunologic, and inflammatory processes involving peripheral nerve endothelial cells.
BT - Microbes and infection C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11165928?dopt=Abstract DA - 2000 Dec IS - 15 J2 - Microbes Infect. LA - eng N2 -Selective infection of peripheral nerves is a unique property of Mycobacterium leprae that results in serious injury, but its basis is unexplained. Recent evidence from infected armadillos suggests that endothelial cells of peripheral nerve vasculature may be the gatekeepers by which M. leprae infects nerves. The pathogenesis of neuropathy in leprosy may thus entail a dynamic sequence of adhesion, immunologic, and inflammatory processes involving peripheral nerve endothelial cells.
PY - 2000 SP - 1835 EP - 43 T2 - Microbes and infection TI - Endothelial cells and the pathogenesis of lepromatous neuritis:insights from the armadillo model. VL - 2 SN - 1286-4579 ER -