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Antibodies to Myelin P0 and Ceramide Perpetuate Neuropathy in Long Standing Treated Leprosy Patients

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Abstract

Anti neural antibodies are known to play a role in the immunopathogenesis of nerve damage in leprosy and HIV/AIDS. Myelin Protein zero (P0) and ceramide are two nerve components which maintain the integrity of the peripheral nerve. The present study was undertaken to identify antibodies to myelin P0 and ceramide in the sera of treated leprosy patients, HIV positive individuals and healthy subjects using enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). The results revealed that treated leprosy patients continue to have significantly elevated myelin P0 and ceramide antibody levels as compared to healthy subjects (P < 0.05). The elevated antibody response to myelin P0 and ceramide in leprosy patients indicate a low grade autoimmune activity that perpetuates nerve damage in treated leprosy. There was no significant difference in the myelin P0 and ceramide antibody levels between HIV positive and healthy subjects (P > 0.05) suggesting that these antibodies do not play a role in early HIV infection.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the support of LEPRA India, BPRC where the initial work was carried out. We acknowledge the support of Dr. V. Saraswathi, NTR Blood Bank, Hyderabad and Dr. Srinivasulu, MNJ Cancer Hospital, Red Hills, Hyderabad.

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Author notes

  1. A. Shiva Kumar

    Present address: Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Pathology, Colorado State University, 1682 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1682, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CODEWEL Nireekshana- ACET (AIDS Care Education and Training), Narayanaguda, Hyderabad, 500029, India

    Renuka Raju, S. Karuna Devi, Suman Jain, Sujai Suneetha & Lavanya M. Suneetha

  2. Institute of Pathology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Safdarjung Hospital Campus, P.O 4909, New Delhi, 110029, India

    C. Mehervani

  3. Department of Neurology, Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences, Panjagutta, Hyderabad, 500082, India

    A. K. Meena

  4. Mahavir Medical Research Center, 37/165 Bhagwan Mahavir Marg, Masab Tank, Hyderabad, 500028, India

    P. P. Reddy & Penaguluru Pranay

  5. Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, 8036, Graz, Austria

    J. J. Archelos-Gracia

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  1. Renuka Raju
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  2. S. Karuna Devi
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Correspondence to Lavanya M. Suneetha.

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Raju, R., Devi, S.K., Mehervani, C. et al. Antibodies to Myelin P0 and Ceramide Perpetuate Neuropathy in Long Standing Treated Leprosy Patients. Neurochem Res 36, 766–773 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-010-0397-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-010-0397-7

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