Nitrotyrosine localization to dermal nerves in borderline leprosy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Nerve damage is a common and disabling feature of leprosy, with unclear aetiology. It has been reported that the peroxidizing agents of myelin lipids-nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite-are produced in leprosy skin lesions.

OBJECTIVES:

To investigate the localization of nitrotyrosine (NT)-a local end-product of peroxynitrite-in leprosy lesions where dermal nerves are affected by a granulomatous reaction.

METHODS:

We investigated by immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy the localization of the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and NT in biopsies exhibiting dermal nerves from patients with untreated leprosy.

RESULTS:

There were abundant NT-positive and iNOS-positive macrophages in the borderline leprosy granulomas infiltrating peripheral nerves identified by light microscopy, S-100 and neurofilament immunostaining. Immunoelectron microscopy showed NT reactivity in neurofilament aggregates and in the cell wall of Mycobacterium leprae.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results suggest that NO and peroxynitrite could be involved in the nerve damage following borderline leprosy.

• Authors: T Schön, R Hernández-Pando, J Baquera-Heredia, Y Negesse, L E Becerril-Villanueva, J C L Eon-Contreras, T Sundqvist, S Britton
• Journal: The British journal of dermatology (Br J Dermatol) Vol. 150 Issue 3 Pg. 570-4 (Mar 2004) ISSN: 0007-0963 [Print] England
• PMID: 15030344 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• S100 Proteins
• 3-nitrotyrosine
• Tyrosine
• Nitric Oxide Synthase

Topics

• Granuloma (enzymology, metabolism, pathology)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry (methods)
• Leprosy (enzymology, metabolism, pathology)
• Macrophages (metabolism)
• Microscopy, Immunoelectron (methods)
• Mycobacterium leprae (metabolism)
• Nitric Oxide Synthase (analysis)
• Peripheral Nerves (metabolism, pathology)
• S100 Proteins
• Skin (innervation, metabolism, pathology)
• Skin Diseases, Bacterial (enzymology, metabolism, pathology)
• Tyrosine (analogs & derivatives, analysis)