Alterations to antigen-specific immune responses before and after multidrug therapy of leprosy

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2015 Oct;83(2):154-61. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2015.06.021. Epub 2015 Jul 2.

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of leprosy multidrug therapy (MDT) on cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and antibody responses at diagnosis in untreated paucibacillary (PB) (n=15) and multibacillary (MB) patients (n=15) using a panel of Mycobacterium leprae recombinant antigens (rMLs) (CMI: 46f, ML0276, ML2055, leprosy IDRI diagnostic 1 [LID-1], and ML2629, as negative control; serology: LID-1, 46f, 92f, and 33f, as negative control, and phenolic glycolipid I [PGL-I]) and at 2 time points after MDT (PB: 8-20months; MB: 4-22months). At diagnosis, PB patients produced interferon gamma (IFNγ), and MB patients exhibited low/absent response. Shortly after MDT, IFNγ production in PB patients declined except for LID-1; MB patients produced IFNγ to LID-1. Almost 2years after MDT, IFNγ levels declined in PB and MB patients. Most untreated PB patients were seronegative to PGL-I and rML, remaining so after MDT. Most untreated MB patients were seropositive to all antigens, and IgG to rMLs declined after MDT. Reduction in antigen-specific CMI in PB and in antibody response in MB patients may help monitor MDT effectiveness.

Keywords: Cellular immunity; Diagnosis; Leprosy; Multidrug therapy; Serology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leprosy / drug therapy*
  • Leprosy / immunology*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium leprae / immunology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Bacterial