EDIP - Leprosy / Leishmania

Experimental dermato immuno pathology

Leprosy / Leishmania

Intracellular infections

Interestingly, in leprosy studies we demonstrated that cytokine based polarization of m. leprae specific lesional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is associated with the occurrence of nerve damaging reversal reaction (RR). Encouraged by such findings, we measured cytokine profiles both in circulation and in skin biopsies to monitor the patients for early prediction of nerve damaging reversal and erythema nodusum leprosum (ENL) reactions. In this regard, it appears that circulating level of several pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines and a monokine [neopterine: activated macrophage products] are elevated in leprosy patients across the spectrum in a differential manner. The measurement of circulating cytokines, monokines, relevant soluble receptors and other non immune factors, in combination with the in situ analyses of cellular infiltrates, antigens and innate parameters have been proven valuable to monitor leprosy patients during the evolution of the disease. Further, it is known that the interaction of organisms with phagocytes/DC and thereafter the activation of these antigen processing/presenting cell in interacting with T cells play pivotal role in orchestrating the complex pathology of leprosy spectrum. The studies are presently focused on studying the maturation and plasticity of these cells under the influence of different components of M. leprae.

Similarly, in situ analysis of the molecular and cellular markers is essential to monitor the patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis during the evolution and remission of the inflammation. In this part of the ongoing research, two Ph. D. investigators are at present engaged.

Future plans

This research is supported by:

Q.M. Gastman Wiches stichting, the Netherlands

Tropical Dermatology Foundation, the Netherlands

The Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences

Our research group colloborates with:

Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), the Netherlands

KIT, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Inst. Lauro de Souza Lima (ILSL), Bauru, Brazil

Indian Council for Medical Research

JALMA Research Institute Agra, India

Dept. Microbiology, Hasuddin University, Indonesia

Research topics
Leprosy / Leishmania
Melanoma / Vitilligo
Psoriasis
Contact sensitizers
Reseach group
Publications
TIRC - Tissue Immune Reactivity Club

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