Lepromatous leprosy patients produce antibodies that recognise non-bilayer lipid arrangements containing mycolic acids
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
107(supl.1): 95-103, Dec. 2012. ilus, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-659747
ABSTRACT
Non-bilayer phospholipid arrangements are three-dimensional structures that form when anionic phospholipids with an intermediate structure of the tubular hexagonal phase II are present in a bilayer of lipids. Antibodies that recognise these arrangements have been described in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome and/or systemic lupus erythematosus and in those with preeclampsia; these antibodies have also been documented in an experimental murine model of lupus, in which they are associated with immunopathology. Here, we demonstrate the presence of antibodies against non-bilayer phospholipid arrangements containing mycolic acids in the sera of lepromatous leprosy (LL) patients, but not those of healthy volunteers. The presence of antibodies that recognise these non-bilayer lipid arrangements may contribute to the hypergammaglobulinaemia observed in LL patients. We also found IgM and IgG anti-cardiolipin antibodies in 77% of the patients. This positive correlation between the anti-mycolic-non-bilayer arrangements and anti-cardiolipin antibodies suggests that both types of antibodies are produced by a common mechanism, as was demonstrated in the experimental murine model of lupus, in which there was a correlation between the anti-non-bilayer phospholipid arrangements and anti-cardiolipin antibodies. Antibodies to non-bilayer lipid arrangements may represent a previously unrecognised pathogenic mechanism in LL and the detection of these antibodies may be a tool for the early diagnosis of LL patients.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Autoantibodies
/
Immunoglobulin G
/
Immunoglobulin M
/
Glycolipids
/
Leprosy, Lepromatous
/
Lipid Bilayers
/
Mycolic Acids
/
Antigens, Bacterial
Type of study:
Prognostic study
/
Screening study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2012
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Mexico
Institution/Affiliation country:
National Polytechnic Institute/MX
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