Phenotypic and functional features of innate and adaptive immunity as putative biomarkers for clinical status and leprosy reactions

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify phenotypic and functional biomarkers associated with distinct clinical status of leprosy or leprosy reactions. The study included tuberculoid/borderline (BB/BT/T) and lepromatous (BL/L) leprosy poles as well as Type-1 and Type-2 leprosy reactions along with healthy controls (NI). A range of peripheral blood biomarkers of innate (neutrophils – NEU and monocytes – MON) and adaptive immunity (CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells) were evaluated ex vivo and upon in vitro stimuli with M. leprae antigen. Data analysis allowed the selection of NEUTLR4+ (ex vivo) and CD4+IL-10+ (in vitro) as universal biomarkers increased in all leprosy patients and those exhibiting leprosy re..