Frontiers in Medicine (Jun 2023)

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

  • Márcio Bezerra-Santos,
  • Márcio Bezerra-Santos,
  • Márcio Bezerra-Santos,
  • Lays G. Santos Bomfim,
  • Lays G. Santos Bomfim,
  • Camilla N. Oliveira Santos,
  • Camilla N. Oliveira Santos,
  • Maria Wiliane N. Cunha,
  • Eduardo J. Rocha de Moraes,
  • Rodrigo A. Cazzaniga,
  • Rodrigo A. Cazzaniga,
  • Martha D. L. Tenório,
  • Martha D. L. Tenório,
  • Jonnia M. Sherlock Araujo,
  • Jonnia M. Sherlock Araujo,
  • Lucas Menezes-Silva,
  • Lucas Sousa Magalhães,
  • Lucas Sousa Magalhães,
  • Aline S. Barreto,
  • Aline S. Barreto,
  • Steven G. Reed,
  • Malcolm S. Duthie,
  • Michael W. Lipscomb,
  • Roque Pacheco de Almeida,
  • Roque Pacheco de Almeida,
  • Roque Pacheco de Almeida,
  • Roque Pacheco de Almeida,
  • Tatiana Rodrigues de Moura,
  • Tatiana Rodrigues de Moura,
  • Amélia Ribeiro de Jesus,
  • Amélia Ribeiro de Jesus,
  • Amélia Ribeiro de Jesus,
  • Amélia Ribeiro de Jesus

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1177375
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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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 (n = 51) and from their household contacts (HHCs; n = 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.

Keywords