Pituitary–gonadal hormones and interleukin patterns in leprosy

Abstract

SummaryThe functional status of pituitary-gonadal hormones and their relationship to the pattern of inflammatory cytokines in the lepromatous (LL/BL) and tuberculoid (TT/BT) poles of leprosy were investigated. Gonadotropins [luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)], interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-a and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were significantly higher in LL/BL leprosy patients than in controls and were not different from controls in TT/BT patients. LH and FSH were positively correlated with IL-1b, IL-6 and TNF-a, and CRP concentrations and ESR. Testosterone plasma levels were significantly decreased in LL/BL patients and not different in TT/BT patients compared with controls. In addition, testosterone levels were inversely correlated with IL-6 and TNF-a. Prolactin plasma levels of both LL/BL and TT/BT patients were not different when compared with those of controls. There was a significant positive correlation between IL-6 and TNF-a plasma levels and ESR and CRP concentrations. IL-1b was positively correlated with ESR but not with CRP. The significant correlations between gonadotropins and testosterone and cytokines in leprosy patients suggest that cytokines may have a direct influence at testicular level and may be of pathogenetic significance in leprosy and in other inflammatory states involving reproductive dysfunction.

Serum Th1/Th2 and macrophage lineage cytokines in leprosy; correlation with circulating CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ T‐regs cells

“…Moubasher et al (18) noted that LL patients had significantly higher serum levels of IL-1b with significant positive correlations to bacterial index (BI). Moreover, Leal et al (19) found elevated levels of IL-1b in LL/BL leprosy patients, associated with exacerbated inflammatory responses to the elevated BI. In accordance, significantly higher levels were detected when comparing IL-1b level in MB patients versus PB in the present study.…”

“…Moreover, Leal et al. found elevated levels of IL‐1 β in LL/BL leprosy patients, associated with exacerbated inflammatory responses to the elevated BI. In accordance, significantly higher levels were detected when comparing IL‐1 β level in MB patients versus PB in the present study.…”

Hormone levels are associated with clinical markers and cytokine levels in human localized cutaneous leishmaniasis

“…Stress, gender and age can influence disease outcome in mice and hamsters (Alexander, 1988;Travi et al, 2002;Ruiz et al, 2003;Ehrchen et al, 2004), and hormonal changes have been described in patients infected with L. mexicana (Gallindo-Sevilla et al, 2007). Changes in plasma hormone levels have been correlated with an imbalanced cytokine profile in several acute and chronic infections (Reincke et al, 1998;Bhasin et al, 2001;Leal et al, 2003Leal et al, , 2006Mavoungou et al, 2005;Libonati et al, 2006;Del Rey et al, 2007;Gallindo-Sevilla et al, 2007;Pinto et al, 2007). Hormone level changes have also been implicated in the establishment of human malaria (Kurtis et al, 2001).…”

Leprosy mimicking vasculitis

“…The study by Ovid et al, conducted on 31 subjects with neural leprosy, has reported the presence of positive CRP in around 35% of the subjects. 17 Leal et al (2006), have also reported significantly higher levels of CRP and ESR in subjects with lepromatous leprosy compared to the control. 18 In addition, elevated platelet count has been reported in ENL patients.…”

“…17 Leal et al (2006), have also reported significantly higher levels of CRP and ESR in subjects with lepromatous leprosy compared to the control. 18 In addition, elevated platelet count has been reported in ENL patients. The study by Rea et al (2002) conducted on 11 patients with ENL have reported a significant increase in the mean platelet count from 235 x 10 3 /mm 3 to 322 x 10 3 /mm 3 .…”