sTREM-1 and TNF-α levels are associated with the clinical outcome of leprosy patients

• Published in: Frontiers in medicine Vol. 10; p. 1177375
• Main Authors: Bezerra-Santos, Márcio, Bomfim, Lays G Santos, Santos, Camilla N Oliveira, Cunha, Maria Wiliane N, de Moraes, Eduardo J Rocha, Cazzaniga, Rodrigo A, Tenório, Martha D L, Araujo, Jonnia M Sherlock, Menezes-Silva, Lucas, Magalhães, Lucas Sousa, Barreto, Aline S, Reed, Steven G, Duthie, Malcolm S, Lipscomb, Michael W, de Almeida, Roque Pacheco, de Moura, Tatiana Rodrigues, de Jesus, Amélia Ribeiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 29-06-2023
• Subjects: immune markers; inflammatory cytokine; leprosy; leprosy complications; Medicine; soluble TREM-1; leprosy; immune markers; inflammatory cytokine; soluble TREM-1; leprosy complications
• ISSN: 2296-858X; 2296-858X
• DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1177375

Leprosy reaction (LR) and physical disability (PD) are the most significant clinical complications of leprosy. Herein, we assessed the circulating serum-sTREM-1 and TNF-α levels and their genetic polymorphisms in leprosy. Serum-sTREM-1 and TNF-α levels were measured in leprosy patients (LP) before treatment (
= 51) and from their household contacts (HHCs;
= 25). DNA samples were genotyped using TREM-1 rs2234246 and TNF-α rs1800629-SNP in 210 LPs and 168 endemic controls. The circulating sTREM-1 and TNF-α levels are higher in the multibacillary form. The ROC curve of the serum-sTREM-1 levels was able to differentiate LR from non-LR and PD from non-PD. Similarly, LPs with serum-sTREM-1 levels >210 pg/ml have 3-fold and 6-fold higher chances of presenting with LR and PD, respectively. Genotypes CC+CT of the TREM-1 were associated with leprosy. Taken together, our analyses indicated that sTREM-1 and TNF-α play an important role in the pathogenesis of leprosy and provide promising biomarkers to assist in the diagnosis of leprosy complications.