Defining protective responses to pathogens: cytokine profiles in leprosy lesions

• DOI: 10.1126/science.254.5029.277
• Publication Date: 2021-06-24T03:20:45Z
• Authors: M Yamamura; K Uyemura; RJ Deans; K Weinberg; TH Rea; BR Bloom; RL Modlin
• Keywords: Mycobacterium leprae

The immunological mechanisms required to engender resistance have been defined in few infectious diseases of man, and the role specific cytokines is unclear. Leprosy presents clinically as a spectrum which correlates with cell-mediated immunity pathogen. To assess situ cytokine patterns, messenger RNA extracted from leprosy skin biopsy specimens was amplified by polymerase chain reaction 14 cytokine-specific primers. In lesions resistant form disease, RNAs coding for interleukin-2 interferon-gamma were most evident. contrast, interleukin-4, interleukin-5, interleukin-10 predominated multibacillary form. Thus, susceptibility correlated distinct patterns production.