Enhanced IL-6 and IL-12B Gene Expression After SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Leprosy Patients May Increase the Risk of Neural Damage

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021 Apr 5:tpmd210034. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0034. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTExperts have called attention to the possible negative impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related cytokine storm syndrome on the progression of leprosy-related disabilities. We assessed the frequency of reactional states in patients co-infected with Mycobacterium leprae and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV) 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We consecutively included patients during the first peak of the COVID-19 epidemic in Brazil and analyzed the expressions of genes encoding interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12A, IL-12B, and tumor necrosis factor-α in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We included 64 leprosy patients and 50 controls. Twelve of the leprosy patients and 14 of the controls had been diagnosed with COVID-19. Co-infection was associated with increased IL-6 (P = 0.043) and IL-12B (P = 0.017) expression. The median disability grades were higher for leprosy/COVID-19 patients; however, the difference was not significant (P = 0.194). Patients co-infected with M. leprae and SARS-CoV-2 may experience a higher-grade proinflammatory state.PMID:33819170 | DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.21-0034

Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - April 5, 2021 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Gilberto Santos Morais Junior Patr ícia Shu Kurizky Selma Regina Penha Silva Cerqueira Daniel Holanda Barroso Heidi Luise Schulte Cleandro Pires de Albuquerque Eliana Teles de Gois Laila Salmen Espindola Jaime Martins Santana Izabela Marques Dourado Bast Source Type: research