Whole blood transcriptomics reveals the enrichment of neutrophil activation pathways during erythema nodosum leprosum reaction.

Introduction: Patients with the multibacillary form of leprosy can develop reactional episodes of acute inflammation, known as erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL), which are characterized by the appearance of painful cutaneous nodules and systemic symptoms. Neutrophils have been recognized to play a role in the pathogenesis of ENL, and recent global transcriptomic analysis revealed neutrophil-related processes as a signature of ENL skin lesions. Methods: In this study, we expanded this analysis to the blood compartment, comparing whole blood transcriptomics of patients with non-reactional lepromatous leprosy at diagnosis (LL, n=7) and patients with ENL before administration of anti-reactional treatment (ENL, n=15). Furthermore, a follow-up study was performed with patients experiencing an ENL episode at the time of diagnosis and after 7 days of thalidomide treatment (THAL, n=10). Validation in an independent cohort (ENL=8; LL=7) was performed by RT-qPCR. Results: An enrichment of neutrophil activation and degranulation-related genes was observed in the ENL group, with the gene for the neutrophil activation marker CD177 being the most enriched gene of ENL episode when compared to its expression in the LL group. A more pro-inflammatory transcriptome was also observed, with increased expression of genes related to innate immunity. Validation in an independent cohort indicated that S100A8 expression could discriminate ENL from LL. Supernatants of blood cells stimulated in vitro with Mycobacterium leprae sonicate showed higher levels of CD177 compared to the level of untreated cells, indicating that the leprosy bacillus can activate neutrophils expressing CD177. Of note, suggestive higher CD177 protein levels were found in the sera of patients with severe/moderate ENL episodes when compared with patients with mild episodes and LL patients, highlighting CD177 as a potential systemic marker of ENL severity that deserves future confirmation. Furthermore, a follow-up study was performed with patients at the time of ENL diagnosis and after 7 days of thalidomide treatment (THAL, n=10). Enrichment of neutrophil pathways was sustained in the transcriptomic profile of patients undergoing treatment; however, important immune targets that might be relevant to the effect of thalidomide at a systemic level, particularly NLRP6 and IL5RA, were revealed. Discussion: In conclusion, our study reinforces the key role played by neutrophils in ENL pathogenesis and shed lights on potential diagnostic candidates and novel therapeutic targets that could benefit patients with leprosy.

Macrophage immunophenotypes in Jorge Lobo's disease and lepromatous leprosy- A comparative study.

Jorge Lobo's disease (JLD) and lepromatous leprosy (LL) share several clinical, histological and immunological features, especially a deficiency in the cellular immune response. Macrophages participate in innate and adaptive inflammatory immune responses, as well as in tissue regeneration and repair. Macrophage function deficiency results in maintenance of diseases. M1 macrophages produce pro-inflammatory mediators and M2 produce anti-inflammatory cytokines. To better understand JLD and LL pathogenesis, we studied the immunophenotype profile of macrophage subtypes in 52 JLD skin lesions, in comparison with 16 LL samples, using a panmacrophage (CD68) antibody and selective immunohistochemical markers for M1 (iNOS) and M2 (CD163, CD204) responses, HAM56 (resident/fixed macrophage) and MAC 387 (recently infiltrating macrophage) antibodies. We found no differences between the groups regarding the density of the CD163, CD204, MAC387+ immunostained cells, including iNOS, considered a M1 marker. But HAM56+ cell density was higher in LL samples. By comparing the M2 and M1 immunomarkers in each disease separately, some other differences were found. Our results reinforce a higher M2 response in JLD and LL patients, depicting predominant production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, but also some distinction in degree of macrophage activation. Significant amounts of iNOS + macrophages take part in the immune milieu of both LL and JLD samples, displaying impaired microbicidal activity, like alternatively activated M2 cells.

Case Report: Type 2 Leprosy Reaction Mimicking Sweet Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Type 2 leprosy reaction is a type of acute inflammation that predominantly affects borderline lepromatous leprosy and lepromatous leprosy patients and occurs before, during, or after therapy. The atypical variant, which resembles Sweet syndrome, could easily lead to misdiagnosis. Here, we report a case of a 52-year-old man who presented with type 2 leprosy reaction that mimicked Sweet syndrome. In addition, we review published cases and summarize their features to raise awareness of this atypical variant to enable improved diagnosis and management.

Trans-epidermal extrusion of lepra bacilli from histoid lesions: a risk of continued transmission.

The current goal of Zero Leprosy focuses on the interruption of the transmission of infection within endemic regions. While the role of the skin in the transmission dynamics of leprosy has not been clearly delineated, recent research on the environmental presence of lepra bacilli brings this aspect back into focus. We present a case of lepromatous leprosy with perforated-appearing histoid lesions on the palms and soles, demonstrating the presence of lepra bacilli throughout the epidermis.

Case Report: Borderline Lepromatous Leprosy Therapy Complicated by Type 1 Leprosy Reaction and Adverse Reactions with Dapsone and Clofazimine.

Leprosy is a global health issue, causing long-term functional morbidity and stigma. Rapid diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important; however, early diagnosis is often challenging, especially in nonendemic areas. Here, we report a case of borderline lepromatous leprosy accompanied by dapsone-induced (neutropenia, anemia, and methemoglobinemia) and clofazimine-induced (skin discoloration and ichthyosis) side effects and type 1 leprosy reactions during administration of the multidrug therapy. The patient completely recovered without developing any deformities or visual impairment. To ensure early diagnosis and a favorable outcome, clinicians should be aware of the diminished sensation of skin lesions as a key physical finding and manage the drug toxicities and leprosy reactions appropriately in patients on multidrug therapy.

Reverse Koebner phenomenon in erythema nodosum leprosum.

BACKGROUND: Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is an immunologically mediated phenomenon complicating the course of leprosy. Reverse Koebner phenomenon is the term used to describe the sparing of previously injured or diseased skin by new skin lesions of the disease. METHODS: A middle-aged woman with a known case of lepromatous leprosy for the past year presented with an eruption of reddish painful nodules over her body. The lesions were found to characteristically spare the sites of previous scars. RESULTS: This sparing phenomenon of previous scar sites has been termed reverse Koebner phenomenon, a site of the body that offers greater resistance than the rest of the body to the onset of the disease, seen in various diseases, but it has never been described in ENL. CONCLUSION: This sparing of scar sites in ENL can be attributed to reverse Koebner phenomenon.

Chronic type 2 reaction in lepromatous leprosy with underlying Plasmodium falciparum infection: A case report.

Tropical diseases prevalent in leprosy-endemic areas may alter the immunological patient response and also complicate the presentation of leprosy reactional episodes. The introduction of anti-malarial drugs in our case produced a subsidence of reaction. With dwindling manpower skilled in leprosy, the reactional episodes are very often treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids and thalidomide, neglecting the possibility of other co-existing infections, tropical or other. Our case emphasises the importance of history, examination and balanced investigation in the context of tropical diseases in endemic areas before injudicious intervention.

Genomic characterization of Mycobacterium lepromatosis from ENL patients from India.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Both organisms cannot be cultured in vitro. M. lepromatosis was found to be associated mainly with diffuse lepromatous leprosy and with Lucio's phenomena initially. Later, M. lepromatosis was observed in borderline leprosy cases (BL), lepromatous leprosy cases (LL) and leprosy reactional cases (T1R and ENL). Although many cases are being reported with similar clinical features like Lucio phenomenon in India but M. lepromatosis was not isolated from these cases. The aim of this study was to screen MB patients and patients with type 2 reaction for the presence of M. lepromatosis. METHODOLOGY: We recruited a total of 75 multibacillary leprosy cases (45 MB cases without reaction and 30 type 2 reaction (ENL) cases) from TLM hospitals Purulia (West Bengal), Barabanki (Uttar Pradesh), Shahdara (Delhi) and PGIMER (Chandigarh), India. Punch biopsies of 5 mm were collected in 70% ethanol from all the study subjects. DNA was extracted followed by Hemi-nested PCR targeting 16S rRNA gene specific for M. lepromatosis. Further, PCR products were processed for Sanger sequencing for an absolute confirmation of M. lepromatosis. Whole genome sequencing was done to confirm the presence of M. lepromatosis. RESULT: We observed presence of M. lepromatosis in 4 necrotic ENL patients by heminested PCR. There was 100% 16S rRNA sequence similarity with M. lepromatosis FJ924 in one case, 98.96% in two cases and in one case it was 90.9% similarity by nucleotide BLAST (BLASTn) by using the NCBI website. On the basis of Sanger sequencing, we noted presence of M. lepromatosis in 3 necrotic ENL patients as one sample only gave 90.9% similarity by BLASTn. On the basis of de novo assembly and genome obtained, only one sample S4 with a 2.9 mb genome size was qualified for downstream analysis. Sixteen M. lepromatosis- specific proteins were identified in this case and the closest species was M. lepromatosis strain FJ924 based on whole genome level phylogeny. CONCLUSION: These results provide valuable insights into the prevalence of M. lepromatosis in ENL patients in different regions of India and contribute to our understanding of the genetic characteristics of this pathogen in the context of leprosy.

Bioinformatic approach for repurposing immunomodulatory drugs for lepromatous leprosy.

Background: The lepromatous leprosy (LL) disease is caused by Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis which is characterized by inadequate response to treatment, a propensity to drug resistance, and patient disability. We aimed to evaluate current immunomodulatory medicines and their target proteins collectively as a drug repurposing strategy to decipher novel uses for LL. Methods: A dataset of human genes associated with LL-immune response was retrieved from public health genomic databases including the Human Genome Epidemiology Navigator and DisGeNET. Retrieved genes were filtered and enriched to set a robust network (≥10, up to 21 edges) and analyzed in the Cytoscape program (v3.9). Drug associations were obtained in the NDEx Integrated Query (v1.3.1) coupled with drug databases such as ChEMBL, BioGRID, and DrugBank. These networks were analyzed in Cytoscape with the CyNDEx-2 plugin and STRING protein network database. Results: Pathways analyses resulted in 100 candidate drugs organized into pharmacological groups with similar targets and filtered on 54 different drugs. Gene-target network analysis showed that the main druggable targets associated with LL were tumoral necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1B, and interferon-gamma. Consistently, glucosamine, binimetinib, talmapimod, dilmapimod, andrographolide, and VX-702 might have a possible beneficial effect coupled with LL treatment. Conclusion: Based on our drug repurposing analysis, immunomodulatory drugs might have a promising potential to be explored further as therapeutic options or to alleviate symptoms in LL patients.

Leonine Facies of Lepromatous Leprosy.

This case report describes a man in his 30s presenting with a 3-year history of progressive nodules on his face and forearms and blurry vision in his left eye.

Childhood borderline lepromatous leprosy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy in children is a strong indicator of the recent failure of leprosy control and disease transmission programs. For twenty-two years, leprosy has been declared `eliminated as a public health hazard,` yet new cases continue to emerge in endemic areas. The new case detection rate among the child population was recorded at 4.4 per million children. Because of their underdeveloped or neonatal immunity and exposure to intrafamilial contacts, children tend to be the most vulnerable population. CASE: We present a case of the borderline lepromatous type of leprosy in a 9-year-old Indonesian male patient with the chief complaint of three stiff fingers on his left hand that began four years ago and hypopigmented patches on the back and buttocks that began five years ago. In this case, there was a history of leprosy in his mother`s sister, who had died. Leprosy in the patient was suspected of possibly being transmitted from his mother`s sister who had intense contact with the patient. The results of bacteriological examination with Ziehl- Neelsen staining of tissue scrapings found acid-fast bacilli. He was treated with a multibacillary multidrug regimen for 12 months. Periodical observations after the patient received the treatment revealed no new spots on the patient`s skin, some of the previous hypopigmented patches seemed to fade, especially those on the back. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of an effective vaccine, early diagnosis and treatment are critical in preventing disability and deformity and reducing the physical, psychosocial, and economic burden of the disease.

Histoid leprosy complicated by erythema nodosum leprosum mimicking connective tissue disease.

Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is an immunological complication of leprosy seen in 50% of lepromatous and 10% of borderline lepromatous leprosy. It usually presents as a multisystem disease with papulo-nodular skin lesions and fever. Arthralgia or arthritis is a common initial presentation of erythema nodosum leprosum. Pure rheumatologic presentation of lepromatous leprosy complicated by erythema nodosum leprosum is extremely rare, mimics connective tissue disease and is treated with steroids.

Evidencing leprosy neuronal inflammation by 18-Fluoro-deoxy-glucose.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is caused by multiple interactions between Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) and the host's peripheral nerve cells. M. leprae primarily invades Schwann cells, causing nerve damage and consequent development of disabilities. Despite its long history, the pathophysiological mechanisms of nerve damage in the lepromatous pole of leprosy remain poorly understood. This study used the findings of 18F-FDG PET/CT on the peripheral nerves of eight lepromatous patients to evaluate the degree of glucose uptake by peripheral nerves and compared them with clinical, electrophysiological, and histopathological evaluations. METHODS: Eight patients with lepromatous leprosy were included in this study. Six patients were evaluated up to three months after leprosy diagnosis using neurological examination, nerve conduction study, 18F-FDG PET/CT, and nerve biopsy. Two others were evaluated during an episode of acute neuritis, with clinical, neurophysiological, and PET-CT examinations to compare the images with the first six. RESULTS: Initially, six patients already had signs of peripheral nerve injury, regardless of symptoms; however, they did not present with signs of neuritis, and there was little or no uptake of 18F-FDG in the clinically and electrophysiologically affected nerves. Two patients with signs of acute neuritis had 18F-FDG uptake in the affected nerves. CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FDG uptake correlates with clinical neuritis in lepromatous leprosy patients but not in silent neuritis patients. 18F-FDG PET-CT could be a useful tool to confirm neuritis, especially in cases that are difficult to diagnose, such as for the differential diagnosis between a new episode of neuritis and chronic neuropathy.

Systematic Review of Hansen Disease Attributed to Mycobacterium lepromatosis.

In 2008, bacilli from 2 Hansen disease (leprosy) cases were identified as a new species, Mycobacterium lepromatosis. We conducted a systematic review of studies investigating M. lepromatosis as a cause of HD. Twenty-one case reports described 27 patients with PCR-confirmed M. lepromatosis infection (6 dual M. leprae/M. lepromatosis): 10 case-patients in the United States (7 originally from Mexico), 6 in Mexico, 3 in the Dominican Republic, 2 each in Singapore and Myanmar, and 1 each in Indonesia, Paraguay, Cuba, and Canada. Twelve specimen surveys reported 1,098 PCR-positive findings from 1,428 specimens, including M. lepromatosis in 44.9% (133/296) from Mexico, 3.8% (5/133) in Colombia, 12.5% (10/80) in Brazil, and 0.9% (2/224) from the Asia-Pacific region. Biases toward investigating M. lepromatosis as an agent in cases of diffuse lepromatous leprosy or from Mesoamerica precluded conclusions about clinicopathologic manifestations and geographic distribution. Current multidrug treatments seem effective for this infection.

Rare concurrence of lepromatous leprosy and cutaneous tuberculosis.

The coinfection of leprosy and tuberculosis has been rarely reported in literature. A middle-aged man who was a known case of hepatitis B infection had presented with ichthyosis with claw hand deformity and submandibular swelling, which were diagnosed with lepromatous leprosy and scrofuloderma, respectively.

Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detection of Mycobacterium leprae DNA in Tissue Specimens from Patients with Leprosy.

In leprosy, early diagnosis is crucial to prevent transmission and onset of disabilities of the disease. The purpose of this study was to determine usefulness of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in clinically diagnosed cases of leprosy. Thirty-two leprosy cases were included. The real-time PCR was performed using commercial kit targeting Mycobacterium leprae-specific insertion sequence element. The slit skin smear was positive in two (22.2%) borderline tuberculoid (BT) patients, five (83.3%) borderline lepromatous (BL) patients, and seven (50%) lepromatous leprosy (LL). The positivity of quantitative real-time PCR in BT, BL, LL, and pure neuritic leprosy were 77.8%, 83.3%, 100%, and 33.3%, respectively. Using histopathology as the gold standard, sensitivity of quantitative real-time PCR was 93.1%, and specificity was 100%. The DNA load was higher in LL (3,854.29/106 cells), followed by BL (140.37/106 cells), and BT (2.69/106 cells). Because of the high sensitivity and specificity of real-time PCR, our study strongly suggests the use of real-time PCR as a diagnostic tool for leprosy.

Case Report: Lepromatous Leprosy Masquerading as Acute Suppurative Lymphadenitis.

Leprosy is a chronic cutaneous infection. It is usually characterized by thickened nerves and maculo-anesthetic patches. Leprosy often has an unusual presentation, which is a diagnostic challenge. In this case report, we present a case of an elderly male who presented with fever and chronic pus-draining axillary, cervical, and inguinal lymph nodes. He also had a weak left foot for the previous 5 months. During his hospital stay, he developed additional papular lesions over his extremities. We performed fine needle aspiration from the lymph nodes and skin biopsy, which were suggestive of lepromatous leprosy. We initiated him on antileprosy medication. On follow-up, he was responsive to therapy. Although skin and nerve involvement in leprosy is common, this case had an atypical presentation of discharging lymph nodes.