AUTHOR=Pitta Izabela Jardim R. , Angst Debora Bartzen Moraes , Pinheiro Roberta Olmo , Vieira Joyce Soares da Silva , Spitz Clarissa Neves , Andrade Ligia Rocha , Carvalho Larissa Bittencourt , Hacker Mariana Andrea , Sarno Euzenir Nunes , Jardim Marcia Rodrigues 

TITLE=Cytokines profile in pure neural leprosy

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1272471

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2023.1272471

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=Introduction: Pure Neural Leprosy (PNL) is a form of this long time known disease that affects only the peripheral nervous system.  Since it is a rare form of the disease, its pathophisiology is still poorly understood.
Objective: Describe the cytokines profile in patients with PNL.
Methods:  30 Patients diagnosed with PNL in the Souza Araujo Outpatient Clinic and with cytokines evaluated were selected. They were evaluated by neurologists and diagnosed after a nerve biopsy. Serum levels of IL-1 β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, TNF, CCL-2/MCP-1, IFN-ϒ, CXCL-10/IP-10 and TGF-β were evaluates at the moment of the diagnosis.
Results: Neural thickening was a common clinical finding in this groups of patients. Small and medium sensitive fibers signs and symptoms were present in 92% of the patients and motor involvement in 53%. 43% of patients presented neuropathic pain and no one had neuritis TGF-beta, IL-17, CCl-2 and IP-10. CCL-2 levels were associated with demyelinating patters and IP-10 and IL-1o were associated with axonal patterns at NCS. 
Discussion: PNL patients’ cytokine profile appears to be different of other clinical forms of leprosy, with the presence of cytokines described in both tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy. High levels of CCl-2 may be related to the presenc