HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Gomes, G. I. Articles by Kipnis, T. L. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gomes, G. I. Articles by Kipnis, T. L.

The Functional State of the Complement System in Leprosy

Ninety-one patients with different clinical forms of leprosy, 36 lepromatous (LL), 33 tuberculoid (TL), and 22 dimorphic (DL), and 31 healthy volunteer donors were included in this study. Total complement system (CS) activity was assessed by hemolytic methods, whereas individual components were quantified by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Under conditions allowing initiation of cascade by the classic pathway (CP) but not alternative pathway (AP) activation, significant CS consumption was detected only in sera from patients with LL. In this group of patients, C4 but not factor B (fB) or C3 was significantly reduced, whereas mannose-binding lectin (MBL) serum levels were significantly higher. These results indicate that the CP is involved in CS activation in patients infected with Mycobacterium leprae manifesting LL clinical form of leprosy. An association is likely between circulating immune complexes and MBL high serum levels for initiation of CS activation in patients with LL form of leprosy.

Received September 27, 2007. Accepted for publication January 16, 2008.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank the patients with leprosy who agreed to participate in this study after signing their consent and Luzia N. C. Linhares, Erli N. Rangel, Consuelita G. S. Alves, Cristiane G. V. de Almeida, Marione J. Fereira, Jozenir P. Maria and Francisco C.V. Pinto, and Jorge C. Maciel Fo, attending nurses of the staff of the "Ambulat ório de Hanseníase-Hospital Ferreira Machado, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ," for collaboration during collection of blood from patients with leprosy.

Financial support: This study was supported by grants from CNPq (Proc. 47-21.02/2003-6; Proc. 47-2745/2003-4), FAPERJ (Cientistas de Nosso Estado, Proc.E-26/152.497/2002), and FENORTE/TECNORTE (Proc. E-15/ 021.724/04).

^* Address correspondence to Wilmar D. Da Silva, Laboratório de Biologia do Reconhecer, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense–Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 Parque Califórnia, CEP:28015-620, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil. E-mail: wds{at}uenf.br

Authors’ addresses: Gabriela I. Gomes, Rose K. R. G. Santos, Wilmar D. Da Silva, and Thereza L. Kipnis, Laboratório de Biologia do Reconhecer, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense–Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 Parque Califórnia, CEP:28015-620, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil, Telephone: 5522-2726-1591, Fax: 5522-2726-1591. Edilbert P. Nahn Jr., Hospital M Ferreira Machado, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.

Reprint requests: Thereza L. Kipnis, Laboratório de Biologia do Reconhecer, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense–Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lame go, 2000 Parque Califórnia, CEP:28015-620, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil, Telephone: 5522-2726-1591, Fax: 5522-2726-1591.