TY - JOUR KW - Biomarkers KW - Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor KW - Case-Control Studies KW - Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay KW - Humans KW - Immunohistochemistry KW - leprosy KW - Nerve Growth Factor KW - Neurotrophin 3 KW - Skin AU - Michellin LB AU - Barreto J AU - Marciano LHSC AU - Lara F AU - Nogueira MES AU - Souza VNB AU - Costa MRSN AB -

Neurotrophins are growth factors with crucial roles in neural pathophysiology. These mediators functionally modulate nociceptive fibers, and changes in neurotrophins expression have been correlated with early loss of nociception in leprosy. This study investigated the expression of NGF, BDNF, and NT3 in dermal nerves of leprosy patients. Characterization of Remak bundles was achieved by p75(NTR), and axonal markers NF-L and PGP 9.5 immunostaining. Clinical parameters of neural impairment have been evaluated by Semmes-Wenstein monofilaments. Our findings demonstrated decrease of NGF in borderline leprosy, when compared to control specimens. Similar results were observed in PGP 9.5 expression (borderline: p<0.001 and lepromatous: p<0.05) and NF-L (lepromatous: p<0.05), suggesting advanced Remak bundles degeneration in multibacillary leprosy. It has also been observed positive correlation between p75(NTR) and PGP 9.5, indicating association between Schwann cells and axons in Remak bundles. Present data indicate that neurotrophins imbalance may participate in the establishment of peripheral nerve damage.

BT - Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22510739?dopt=Abstract C2 - Brazil CY - Sao Paulo DA - 2012 Apr DO - 10.1590/s0004-282x2012000400012 IS - 4 J2 - Arq Neuropsiquiatr LA - eng N2 -

Neurotrophins are growth factors with crucial roles in neural pathophysiology. These mediators functionally modulate nociceptive fibers, and changes in neurotrophins expression have been correlated with early loss of nociception in leprosy. This study investigated the expression of NGF, BDNF, and NT3 in dermal nerves of leprosy patients. Characterization of Remak bundles was achieved by p75(NTR), and axonal markers NF-L and PGP 9.5 immunostaining. Clinical parameters of neural impairment have been evaluated by Semmes-Wenstein monofilaments. Our findings demonstrated decrease of NGF in borderline leprosy, when compared to control specimens. Similar results were observed in PGP 9.5 expression (borderline: p<0.001 and lepromatous: p<0.05) and NF-L (lepromatous: p<0.05), suggesting advanced Remak bundles degeneration in multibacillary leprosy. It has also been observed positive correlation between p75(NTR) and PGP 9.5, indicating association between Schwann cells and axons in Remak bundles. Present data indicate that neurotrophins imbalance may participate in the establishment of peripheral nerve damage.

PB - Scielo PP - Sao Paulo PY - 2012 SP - 281 EP - 6 T2 - Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria TI - Leprosy patients: neurotrophic factors and axonal markers in skin lesions. TT - [Pacientes com hanseníase: fatores neurotróficos e marcadores axonais em lesões de pele] UR - http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2012000400012&nrm=iso VL - 70 SN - 1678-4227 ER -